Chasing Her Back

n't s

o my chest, eyes fixed on the blank wall in front of me l

ke

. Or at least, who I'd been modeled after. Same waves in her hair. Same sharp ja

cial. I was

from another w

e'd known. He'

felt tight. My body heavy. Like something invisible

him. Ate breakfast alone i

ice was too sweet. Even the toast felt wr

oming. I stood, too fast, nearly knocking

en move to

yes swept over the mess, then t

led the maid,

ve ha

e blee

bloomed red across my pa

st before I could pull away. His gr

pau

ve gone through m

dn't have

dn't

tell the t

lled a first aid kit out of a drawer, and opene

nce. I watched him work-st

whispered. "Clothed me like

e," he said, eyes sti

ve let me p

ter than necessary. I win

day, I foun

I shouldn't have looked. But aga

me was

are click, just stared at the name like

e

But it fit me better than t

she

ss

o

till ou

ek black car as we drove to some charity event. He

s tight. Too elegant. Not m

me stunning. Asked questions I didn't know how to answer. I

he cast me in. T

e-I was s

home, I fi

ou lov

aw tw

ho

know

etlights carved gold lines across his chee

es

nest. No h

ou st

dn't

ts own kind

My reflection stared back at m

that nig

, watching the drops crawl down the gla

Not dramatic. Just this quiet s

ike it might bring the

en

s she

the he

e was too loud. I needed... something.

in his st

e, I did

aring at the desk wher

s gon

creaked

't stay out

ia

He didn't look

cause I deserve t

ehind his eyes-grief, maybe. Regret. I couldn't tel

aid finally. "She went m

ssi

rywhere. She ju

look li

dded,

here because you t

esit

t her. But you reminde

in my throat. "So y

omething to

eeded

le

g, the edges of my vision going

," he

top

y looked at me-for th

e said, voice low. "She's the reas

fr

ha

his hair. "I should

What do you mean

at night. The night

eath

u think I

red a

time since I wok