30

Elise

Morning came when I woke up. I wasn't surprised to find that Gian was no longer beside me, but I grabbed the pillow where his head had rested and hugged it.

He had stayed until almost morning. Before he left, he whispered that he needed to get up and go back to his room before his mother checked on me. I remember his touch on my cheek before I fell asleep again.

As I slowly awakened, memories of the previous night started to come back. My drunkenness... the things I said...

I opened my eyes, gazing at the rotating ceiling fan above the bed. Did I tell him I liked him? It felt like I did, but the details were hazy. Did I mean it in a simple way or something more?

I slowly got up, feeling the ache in my entire body. I needed my medicine. My head throbbed, and I craved a cup of coffee. I needed a hot shower.

I had to be ready when I face Gian again. And only because

I couldn't hide fr