Reflection

hair, untangling the knots from a restless night. Tilting her head backwards, she let the water wash over her face, eyes closed, breath sl

ow is

e the steam, bitter memories clinging to her like damp clot

ould th

ply, then turne

to bre

and skirt, pulled her hair into a neat pon

tired but

y befo

her, and she'd rushed dow

at was the moment everyt

r hair, stormed across the lobby like a woman posses

like glass. Still, the boss said nothing. I looked at him, eyes locked, focusing all my attention on the t

d through the room, sharp and co

forward, ey

year, you dared tarnish the name, a

, "Such disgrac

her throat tighte

n, but she st

", she said, voice

all

turned

your filthy mouth,

nd, surrounded by Sandra and the others, t

ck as he stared i

dra's face as she let out a low

ed, then turned and strutted a

s she stood frozen, the stares arou

r, her head low, her soul hollow. Once up

er." Sandra giggled into the phone, lounging back in he

will be home soon,' she added, glancing down at her wri

get close to him

, she ended the ca

y office", he added. Her eyes lit up. Without hesitation, she reached for her drawers, spritzed on a touc

," she said, h

ing up. That annoyed her

resolved immediat

ir, is t

a slig

p towards his desk,

ure that's

louse, undoing them one by one as she app

attempting to

od up

ice like steel, " but you ar

nto hers, sharp,

chest twisted. Fe

ve and call

ng with shame, rage, and some

e stormed down the corridor, headi

asked, eyes scanning

ooked up

ft right after

low, a twisted kind of rel

at least he won't b

ck to his office, the smugness

Sandra said, s

didn't

her

l." That incident was just a mista

ra f

h her like a blade. Rage

scoff "You are dismissed", he

eft, fist clenched, heat

HE PRESEN

memories, Evelyn blinked herself back

outine, brushing her teeth in a

row maroon skirt, and her fa

ail, slipped on her glasses, and gr

side, nearly m

pany lobby, her face calm, composed as

or the elevator, reli

ere about to close,

ock, it w

she greeted him polite

coldly. "Ho

ing her tone steady. His gaze linge

a strange edg

first floor, and he steppe

lent, shoulders li

stepped out and made her way to the main admi

spotted h

friends, laughing like

r, her voice rang ou

ded to show up, our be

around her group

ken to crawl out of your pl

ruel harmony, their voi

said

n unreadable, but inside, her heart was bleeding,

n, he a

ri

looking sharper than ever, and f

ngly handsome

y his gaze se

a moment, something u

Sanders, his voice

you taunt

s eyes

was ju

olo

ft no room

eluctant apology

r offic

med off like

u want to be in trouble? You all meet me in th

eyes return

me", he s

llowed him, timid

for her to sit and quie

ut a word, don't do that

r what happen

y, sir",

a's o

happened yesterday, he still looks at

omeone else, someone who isn't me. And here I am, standing in the

an't just let him slip through my fing

him what he wants? What if I tied him to me in a way he couldn't esc

er my pride just

nd somehow find the pieces o

his office, not

e shook

this to me, Zeri

way you used to look at

you," Zarien said coldly, his voice st

frozen, hea

sed to know," he added, no

broke

d out of his office, barely holding herself together. H

thing inside her was spinning, but on the outside, she was still -

saw her

rd Zarien's door, heels c

Another escape. Another woman is s

behind Evelyn. Then she lowered her head

l echoed. The rejection, the dis

nd helplessly trying to forget the

s soft against the polished floor. She p

h you about something," she s

n front of him, fingers flipping slowly through the pages. The

ng at her, he muttered,

ands trembled slightly as sh

uest a special l

no re

h gastric cancer," she a

ade hi

His eyes met hers, no longer d

he repeate

g back the emotion

tension between them wasn't cold or pr

air, silent for a moment. Th

e your leave... st

ded. "Than

soft, but her words still linge

re. By noon, the entire com

with sympathy.

ke perfume. She didn't say a word - but inside, something dar

feel what it's like to be the one

, holding her tray of food like it might slip from her hands

ased her li

going

s her

favours

ft of her

id them to her face. She walked more slow

nees weakened. Then, as if the air i

s she hit the ground. Her body stiffe

eiz

Trays clattered to the floo

s the room, felt the victory dr

not right

er mind, a whisper of concern she couldn't shake. Evelyn ha

n her," Cathy mu

bag over her shoulder, and picked up the lunchbox she'd packed that morning. Inside were th

her thoughts pacing faster

for permission to visit the dining hall, knowing

tepped inside, h

face pale, her body trembling. And then, like

ed, her voice tearing

d forward, pushing past the stunned crowd,

he floor, her eyes unfocused

side her, voice shaking. "Som

but Cathy didn't care. Her friend was slippi