ONE NIGHT ONLY

were brushed by a chilly wind, which raised goosebumps. She w

poke. The city buzzed around them – cars in the distance, the faint hum of late-night mu

e, in the faint glow of the streetlights. Not as though he was a menac

he paused under a flashin

rug it off, or act like this was normal

"I don't know. Still, I wa

once more – and extended his hand. Sar

e was missing. Fingers laced together, they strolled a few blocks in quiet. The city faded aroun

indow, a damaged bookshelf packed with novels, a guitar leaning sidew

absorbing everything. She listene

ngaged in? Walking into a stranger's house i

en – just there, not crowding, not f

d whatever terror she ha

ar. His fingers were soft, meticulously attentive. His gaz

Sarah l

But when Alex's hand moved up to cup her cheek and Sarah's fingers got entangled in his shirt, the ki

aughing breathless between kisses, they fell back towar

breathing, the wild, frantic pounding of her

oneliness. It was something more profo

en tangled in the sheets. His fingers drew slo

ng. It ought to have felt inap

discovered somewhere to belong

ex's heartbeat steady thump carr

yourself walking away from this. And for the first time in