The Unseen Cost of Love

op as if nothing had happened. The familiar scent of

er Damien made it big. He' d

his anymore, Blanche. I

ast piece of my old life, the life before him, and I couldn't let it go. It was also a tether,

ice today. My manager, a kind older wom

l miss you. You're the be

ten. "I have to move back home,"

ig catering order for a tech conference downtown.

I could us

ls and cold steel accents. It was Damien's world. As I set up

ough photos of the event's speakers, t

the tired, strained one he gave me anymore. Carson was radiant, her hand resting lightly

great couple,

n in business suits look

ations. And she's Carson Wall. Her father is

coffee. I kept my head down,

r?" I asked, trying t

He never used to come to these networking events, but now he shows up to everything sh

ensive kind from that little artisan place," the other

ach ache, seized me. He buys her coffee every morning. He

ith?" another colleague joined t

works as a waitress or something. Can you imagine? Damien Rowe, a ma

st pay her off and get rid of

pelting me, bruising me. I f

was the one who lifted him up. But what wa

of the women asked, fina

think you're right. They

on autopilot. I packed up the empty containers

down, wanting only to disappear int

I f

ors, I saw them. Damien and Ca

d adjusted the knot of his tie, her fingers lingering on his chest for a momen

was saying, his voice animated in a way I hadn't heard in years. "B

ng. "You could create a stable quantum state wi

his passion. They were speaking a

able. It wasn't just about money or status. It was about

st from a past he wa

fled, not l

s already there. He was standing in the

the trash. The single, burn

terday," he said, his voi

my throat too

I... I forgot. There

fine,"

he same empty promise he always made. "W

on your work. It's more important." I was alre

eved. "Okay. I

something unreadable in his

ay, 'I wished

ang. It was Carson. She'd had a flat t

ys. He was gone in a flash, leaving me alone wi

dinner. It was cold and sweet, but