The Waiting Game

ights flashed in waves of neon pink and electric blue, painting the crowd in wild colors as bodi

just enough to hear her own thoughts, if she let herself. A drink swirled between her fingers-dark, strong, just ho

t had something to prove. It was short,

tender, nodding subtly toward a man leaning near the spe

s. "My type is 'fo

cocktail. "And tomorrow you'

ss like it was some twisted t

t since that night everything broke inside her. Since that trusted face twi

one rule: stay

lker with a lazy grin and no id

asked, flashing teeth that

ant to," May a

taking the hint. But she di

es. No depth. No expectations. No God-talk. Just two people pret

ake,"

," she replied,

ion, a few laughs, hands that lingered too long. Her body went throu

drawn, but the city still leaked in-honking cars, distant siren

ke fell aslee

di

uld stop the thoughts. Wishing she could

dressed in silence, and walked

*

n in scrubs holding coffee like a lifeline. The air was sharp, cool enough to sober her up. May kicked off h

white one with wide steps and stained-gl

n't loo

h half-read books, empty wine bottles, and laundry she hadn't folde

e door, and sank onto the couch with a

zzed on the

8 misse

made banana bread. C

gave up, and Cassandra was too sweet to blame. But no amoun

e typed b

t yes. Not no

*

or, wiping off smudged makeup. The woman staring back at her

on shifted-like something had cracked behind her eyes. She remembered it all too well. The

ied. The day she stopped bel

still spoke about healing and forgiveness like it was somet

d at her

e whispered, "why

e felt lik

stomach growled, but she ignored it. Instead, she opened the window and lit

*

like an old friend. Lacey raised an e

two nights in a row," sh

this or stare at the ceiling wonder

is time. "You ever think maybe

-because it was the kind of thing peo

strong word,"

y turned to face the dance floor, her eyes glossing over the crowd

as a little louder than the last, trying to dr

ot more men. Just.

hing

t believe in

Not in love.

tely not i