She Is a Rose From Ruins

r neighborhood condo a little over an

's so urgent?" he ask

er properly, already hea

a sleek, black

sour ale from a hyped new micr

ing it on the granite countertop with

tared at

ated

ens

ays

yal to the classic styles, especi

knew

sed to k

ture was almost more painfu

le space she occup

weak smile.

sleep, mindlessly scrolling

public

t exact same sour ale, a single can,

iscovery! 😍 So comp

s blood

t it for her to

it because

office, or he' d picked it up on hi

ou might want to try something new. My bad," when she' d mildly reminded

." It was a "you do

clap of thunder ra

ed, her hea

was rolling in, the kind t

-seated fear from a childhood incident where a tree ha

knew

uring storms,

lly jokes, anything to dis

be her

rain began to lash against the

gent work crisis. I need

sbelieving. "Now? In thi

was an angry,

eys and briefcase. "Critical server issue. Co

fleeting, dismissive gesture.

n he wa

ith the storm and h

t suddenly va

omed again, cl

ofa, pulling a throw blan

herself he was t

a genuine wo

ng in her gut to

e storm had passed but her fear still l

fac

shot of a ca

wn a windowpane i

e and sound durin

on was a sled

gone to t

gone t

d and alone in a storm,

s be there, to be her calm in any stor

cal thing, a crushin