HOMELESS HEART, PRICELESS LOVE
e Can't
a bed far too
oap, maybe. The air felt too still, too quiet, and the ache in her chest
o was
s resting on his knees, head down like
ing in the alley behind the food stall, the blur of light
moment she move
. where
t. Rented. Quiet.
vase of fake flowers on the table. It wasn't a pal
on't need help,
he said gently. "Your
olding around herself.
blem," he said. "
s voice chipped aw
her like she was fragile or beneath hi
de he
. A warm bowl of soup sat on the table, s
ed. "You co
completel
, but took a spoonful
faintly. "H
at p
e murmured. "You shouldn'
ready i
houldn
ze never leaving hers. "T
mouth but not
she co
e kne
r Th
the window, phone
rased," he said qu
do that discr
it. I'll deal
re the assistan
ding laundry. Her hands moved slowly, metho
he bridge. Still sharp. Still unreada
urvive?" she a
"What do
kill you. How did y
aw cl
ught it was enough. Left before checking. I crawled out. Don'
. "Do you kno
. A theory. Bu
ho
ed. "My st
bli
eenager," he continued. "Charmed ever
're
ny. She wanted it for her son my half-brothe
m carefully. "T
was c
g sil
anyone?" she
he said. "
oked
ant
Eve
r. The city lights shimmered in the distance. For once, there
followed her until she h
u o
d. "Just
bo
his. All of it. You. Me
er, resting his a
ke sense," he said. "S
h. "That sounds like someth
not trying to buy your si
are you try
ly person who didn't want anything
ilence
art th
y the way he looked at her like she was someth
t terri
leave eventuall
ser. "What mak
you don't stay. Not
shing a strand of
osable. Like you're unworthy. But do yo
eath c
omeone who makes me feel more alive than anything I've built or earned. Someone who
le
one ste
did
s were inc
what this is,"
her d
like it's goin
cupped
save
ps almos
eath
h
BANG
k at t
umped
already moving, tense, reaching f
d the door, it wa
Loren," the
murmured thanks,
oment had
away, arms f
ld go l
n't st
e wan