Taken, Still Mine

t first, she thought it was a dream, but as the sounds sharpened, her

e window, spotting his black car parked b

by him. He seemed softer this morning, carrying lunch bags and car keys, his shy, boyish smile

e. She climbed into the front se

, those girls were his daughters. Wh

hould've let it go, but she couldn't. She watched him open the c

window, unmoving, her fingers still brushing the glass. Sh

through the

her m

elf free from the moment,

n sleep. Her face was dull, eyes slightly pu

e murmured, walking ove

nd lightly over Leah's back. "Your brother j

he didn't feel like doing anything

The sight of it irritated her more than it

shallow drain. The compound was quiet again, sav

e car r

pped out first, stiff, as if each movement

hard, heels clicking as she headed straight for

ill, hand on t

pa

ove - a voice, light bu

ria

e name settled in

ri

was hi

breath withou

ed him by an inch. He looked up, and the woman was

t place. Then, just like that, he

rs were damp, but the cold water couldn't calm the warmth in her veins

houghts she couldn't outrun. The house was still, quiet in that lazy

her phone, but her mind wasn't there. It kept drifting-to the ca

t opened slowly. Ava stepped in, hair pulled back, a

sed. "Do you want to

inked.

calm. "Yeah. I ju

ugged.

y darkened, the air still. S

street hum barely reaching her. The world see

here for

waiting

f him spun in her head, relentless. Her gaze kept

"You like it here, don't you?" She smiled. "It's

st was tight, fingers restless

u've been quiet.

Leah replied, forc

knowing look bu

, a

She clutched the c

it b

wasn'

with faint music blaring. Ava rais

er head. "No

hing Leah with a knowing glint in her eyes. But then, jus

passed.

n-anoth

his time

straightened

lights flashing once. The sound of the engine-s

ipped in like a dream finally arriving. Headlights brushed acro

y, and a subtle, knowing

ced at he

ng," she said with a teasing

ndow. Ava spoke quietly with him, and Leah's chest tightened furth

ok it, and Leah's pulse quickene

m the car and w

nds shook. She cou

oftly, his voice warm.

no sound came out. Finally

odnight, girls," before walking past Lea

es narrowing with quiet curiosity

n, but they still echoed in her mind-ach

and before she knew it, the fantasies unraveled behind her

she promis

would be

he thought sent a brief flutter through her c

heavy with anticipation and questions,