Her Mistakes

tucked between polished storefronts and whispering trees. The evening air held the kind of promise that made the

tonight. It wasn't just a

ed and tossed her hair. Across the table sat his friend Chris, a relaxed guy with a wide

or nearly thirty minutes now. It was Jane who leane

g her drink, "tell me s

a brow, intri

ave a gir

t, all eyes shifting to Johnso

aid. "No g

head. "You ans

ide." Johnson grinned. "If I

d. "Man didn'

d in, teasi

d, and the mome

chool, especially Jane's, where she was worki

sketches," Jane said. "Som

terest. "You know, I have

n eyebrow. "O

ne and scrolled through his gallery

ling picture of Lisa under the su

rrowed. "I kno

eplied smoothly,

ed away. But inside, something had clicked. The date continued, th

Lisa had never expected came

over one shoulder, head lowered as she scrolled thro

orry" Lisa sa

startled. "Wow, perfect timing.

nked. "Y

yes held a purpose that made Lisa une

t thumped with sudden an

hey began walking together. "So... I went

ed, unsure where

there too. He

. She masked her react

ay.

nowing someone in my school and even showed

d. Her breath felt

oked at the picture and thought, I know

y would Johnson show her pic

ed directly at her. "

a f

s fear. Fear of exposure. Fear of being quest

finally. "He's..

ly? That's cute. He see

e. "He's known my fam

id, nodding. "I figured I'd as

et the crack in her voice show. "Anyway, I'

a response, Lisa tur

Her entire body was tight with the weight of pretending. Of lying.

he do th

her screen again and again. He texted

ow what I w

nothing,

e one I ca

she ign

. She opened it to find a delivery man

s perfume, chocola

elope with two plane tick

id a small em

he hadn't dragged her name

gave in and an

I've been calling every min

ice cold. "You took another girl out and brou

plan to mention you. I don't know what

ear

was si

past this? Just forgive me.

y. "I didn't answe

"Then why

she said. "There's one way I'll

, baby. A

ything her number, photos, texts. You're

"Done. I already blocked her.

t respond

e?" he asked, voice

sh it," s

his weekend? I'll send the

inally said, "Sure. Tw

hung

painting her walls in shifting patterns. The perfume he sent sat untou

r heart ref

didn't s

ay so smooth, so s

Or was there something

one, a single thought

isn't

n. And Lisa? She was about to learn that some lies h