Abby Karl hands me my coat with a sympathetic look in his eyes. “Put this on,” he says. “I promised you breakfast.” “Oh.” I take my coat with a slight chuckle. “I got so caught up in the goodbyes that I guess I forgot.” Karl shrugs. “I kinda figured. You still want to go, though, right?” I p
I pause, taken aback. “Coffee would be great. Thanks, Sheryl,” Karl says with a polite nod. I watch as she walks away; I’m not used to being treated like this. Usually, giving food or drinks to customers on the house is something that I would do as a restaurant owner, not the other way around. I
Karl “Get that final draft to me today, Karl. We’re running out of time.” Sarah’s voice comes through the phone, a little sharper than usual. I don’t blame her, though. With the press conference to announce the election in just two days, we’re on a bit of a time crunch; and it’s partially my f
Abby The mansion feels so much bigger and emptier now that my friends are gone. For the few days that they were here, everything felt so lively and maybe even a little chaotic. Now, though, it’s as if my own heartbeat is echoing off of these walls. Normally, I wouldn’t mind; I did live here for
“I’m afraid,” I blurt out. “Plain and simple. Afraid of opening myself up, of potentially getting hurt again. Afraid that, even if he seems like he’s changed as of right now, that he hasn’t really changed all that much.” There’s a long silence as Elsie processes my words. Finally, when she answers
Abby Before I can even open my mouth to respond to Karl’s sudden request, he’s gone. I watch with a furrowed brow as he rushes out of the room, his footsteps receding down the hallway. It’s barely even seven o’clock in the morning, and he’s already demanding that I wake up and meet him downstair
I take a deep breath. “Alright, it’s not a big deal. Let’s go.” We approach the door, which swings open after a few knocks. A short-statured, portly older man greets us from the doorway. He’s got a warm, albeit somewhat eccentric and toothy smile. “Welcome, welcome!” Dr. Armitage exclaims, holdi
Abby The bedroom door slammed shut with a resounding thud, echoing off the walls and reverberating through the silence. I sank down onto the floor, my back against the door, as sobs wracked my body. I buried my head in my knees, the fabric of my jeans rough against my cheeks, damp with tears. I