Hannah The director was a kind, rosy-cheeked woman in her mid-fifties who introduced herself as Margaret. She beamed at Noah and me as she led the way inside the orphanage, chattering about the facility’s history and her dedication to providing the children with a warm, loving home. I only half-
Hannah After the meal, I insisted on helping to clean up despite the director’s protests. With the way Noah had spent the better part of our visit openly mocking me, I felt I had a point to prove—both to him and to myself. “Really, Luna Hannah, you’ve already done so much!” the director proteste
“Alright. Well, the director just told me that she set something up in the rec room. We should get the photo opportunity and then get out.” I blinked at his words. Photo opportunity. Right; we had come here for positive press, after all. That was, ultimately, why I was doing… well, everything late
Hannah I let out a long, shuddering sigh as I closed the bedroom door behind me, leaning back against the cool wood for a moment. Goddess, I felt utterly drained—like all the energy had been sapped straight out of me. Which, I supposed, wasn’t too far from the truth considering how violently ill
Hannah The evening air nipped at my cheeks as Noah and I walked in silence, our footsteps crunching softly against the frosted leaves and twigs that littered the pathway. I pulled my jacket a little tighter around myself, exhaling and watching as the little cloud of mist floated away from my face.
Hannah A few days later, there was a knock on the front door that made me jump. My heart started pounding as I set down the book I had been reading and crossed the living room to answer it. The delivery man didn’t even have time to say anything before I snatched the plain cardboard box from his
The driver put the car in park, and I quickly pulled my compact out of my purse to check my lipstick before we headed in. “I should let you know,” Noah said matter-of-factly, “Zoe is going to be here.” I froze at Noah’s words, my stomach dropping. Zoe. I hadn’t seen her since that uncomfortable
Hannah As I picked at the food on my plate, methodically pushing the bits of grilled chicken and roasted vegetables around with my fork, I could feel multiple sets of eyes on me. Out of my peripheral vision, I caught Zoe sneaking glances my way every few moments, her lips pressed into a tight line