Always a Stand-In

ie's

came t

ely s

t before-Daniel's forced smile, the way he asked if I

asn't lyi

bed and glanced a

pt

ai

t formed in

early.

sheets around me as I walked to the window.

pi

rted bothering me. Maybe it was always

estioned

There was one from the hospital reminding me about my upco

fr

m an unkno

ady to know

art s

ain, my fingers tight

was

e

cruel mi

the words, debating whether to reply. Every

had a mind

is t

ame almost

ws what your hus

el's

g wheel so tightly my

knew so

it in her ey

ut the doubt was there, creep

something soon, I w

grabbed my phone, scrolling to Lena's

it

one ring, her voice

ok who finally

y voice was sharp. "Wha

't have to say much. Just a litt

side me. "Stay

d. "You forget, darli

y jaw, inhal

you're playin

d. "And i

sita

h the past. One wrong move, an

knew

njoying every

ie's

edroom, grip

d ignor

ck the numbe

as, I wasn't re

now what Dani

texte

ll

ater, another m

he Blue Orch

e message, my

as a b

point, I h

find out

r what i

, each second stretchin

Café, my fingers gripping the steering

am I

or may not be Lena-just t

ous, that I was stepping into

my h

needed

eath and checked

59

inute

d cozy, with an outdoor seating area filled with neatly arranged tables. The scent of

the place

I saw

erched on her nose, sipping from a cup

mach d

e

se it w

el's

ve known sh

nce. She was strong, determined, re

d

ng right throu

car, gripp

on-something I never did befo

the Blue

nly one reason

e

y breath and sta

this before it

ie's

utious steps to

rk curled across her lips as she remo

tilting her head. "I didn't

s. "You wanted m

r across from her. "Sit, darli

sita

eamed at me to tur

I di

ch as I hated

hear what sh

ain steady. "I don't have all day,

king a slow si

casual yet dripping

you, Sophie. You wer

el's

faster, weaving t

tight, my p

e so many

e one mistake I coul

ophie before Lena

e truth into somethin

h as I saw the ca

t me not b

ie's

like a dagge

catch, but I refu

let her s

"He was in love with someone else. But she left, and he wa

around m

e truth or a twisted versi

me already

Tell me, Sophie... how does it feel to

ss her words, a familiar

phi

urn

hless, eyes filled with s

lone was an an

the firs

if I wanted to