THE LAST SHOOTING STAR

ve talked a

. The kind of calm that came before an

up from her coffee. She knew

ft, pleading tone that usually made people bend to her wi

rene cut in, stirri

ng patience. "It's one night, Irene. A few hours at mos

N

No?" as if the conce

me," Irene

Irene, you can't spend your l

It's quiet. Peaceful. No one forcing me to waste time at

ridiculous. It's socializing. S

r her breath. Soci

his is important, Irene. Not just for us, but for you.

rld?" Irene's voice was colder now. "By pretending I can afford to fa

le

ment, she thought she h

d

r's voice

t want to see yo

e fr

napkin, dabbing at the co

cou

enly softer. "Your mother is wor

at I won't find love? That I'll die a virgin? That I don'

face crumbl

mother fully broke down, cove

hat w

the fin

could handle pain, she could handle loneliness

handle seeing them

she mu

head snappe

ll

through her mothe

Irene warned.

ed in relief. "T

o

l they we

THE

ed elites. The hum of polite conversation mixed with the soft melody of a string quartet. Everyth

ider. The air was filled with laughter and forced pleasantries. The wealthy gathered in clu

ned up, you migh

voice echoe

a j

someone. She needed to m

made them feel alive, only to shatter them when it w

lls. She had pushed every suitor away, free

had w

il

re

was soft

st time that evening, her c

with recognition. Standing beside her

wed. Dark, knowing eyes that did

se in the room he

n't lo

not the subtle admiration that crumbled under the weight of her indifference. No, this

ng calc

ng pers

e was un

stered debutante. Instead, she shifted her attentio

Irene pointed ou

as blunt as ever." She gestured to the ma

ckered with some

oth

rd Rachael mentio

don't look so surprised. You never cared to hear about men, remember

no respons

d Rachael w

tered to her. She had dismissed it all, pushed it

't afford

d

ven more reaso

ed slightly around

, voice light, but there was something careful in the way she said it.

softly. "I did

ountered. "No calls, no texts nothi

glance

ding

ing dist

el about the diagnosi

e knew it, the world outside became distant noise. She ha

easier

eople from seein

ne finally said, her vo

as if searching for t

tilted his head slightly like he,

igno

ersation away. "You and your brot

brow. "Neither. F

ly spoke, his voice d

aze flick

" she answe

d. "Her parent

curled sli

t press

o

interest in

ersation back to Rachael, she co

ng. Un

while she had the oddest feeling

sed to men

he moment they realized she wasn't soft, c

alway

Ryan

ht carried on with the clinking of glasses and th

stop wat

way. Not in a way th

y that said

th

as dan

a passing waiter. "As much fun as this has been, I think

d. "You're le

es

ely been

er a pointed

her eyes. "You'

ed. A low,

igno

d the exit. She had played her role. She had

d the grand entrance,

rm. Unhe

stil

ned her gaze cl

y

auda

a brow. "

d but didn't fal

dan

nked. Did

efusal came

bit surprised. If anythin

ll enjoy it?

. "I just don't l

her d

let

ready to be laced with ice. But before sh

roaned dramatically. "It's just