… Third Person Betty and Peter burst through the warehouse doors, each of them carrying two children with them. The cool wind hit them like a slap to the face, the sudden shift from choking dust to fresh air a jarring contrast against their singed skin. They barely had time to breathe before m
Audrey I jolted awake with a gasp, still tasting the acrid sensation of ash and rubble on my tongue. Only I wasn’t in the collapsing building anymore. Harsh fluorescent lights glared down at me, making my eyes burn as I squinted against their brightness. My body felt heavy, every inch of me achi
I snorted and went to respond, but before I could speak, a soft groan from the other bed caught our attention. My head snapped back to Edwin just as his eyes fluttered open, that familiar gray gaze locking onto mine instantly. “Edwin,” I whispered, my chest humming with relief. “I thought…” “Aud
Audrey Night had settled over the hospital, a dull quiet filling the air as the fluorescent lights dimmed to a muted glow. The bustling corridors had gone quiet, save for the occasional nurse patrolling past. Everyone was asleep except for me. I couldn’t sleep. How could I? My body ached, musc
Edwin chuckled and pressed a kiss to the top of my head. “If it does, then you’re the hottest old lady to ever walk the planet.” I couldn’t help but laugh. “Funny how things change,” I murmured, the words slipping out without much thought. “I used to hate the silver streak alone. Now it’s complete
Audrey “Edwin, I swear to the Goddess, if you tear those stitches again—” “I’m fine,” Edwin grunted as he lifted the heavy wooden sign over his head, his muscles straining with the effort. Sweat beaded at his temple despite the crisp autumn breeze, and through the bond, I could feel the throb of
Apparently, people actually felt bad for buying into fast fashion, and were making up for it by supporting their local businesses. Nature really was healing itself. In the corner, I spotted Eliza sitting in the plush armchair we had brought down from the apartment, Joseph curled up in her lap as s
Audrey The late afternoon sun was streaming through the shop windows, casting long, golden shadows across the floor as I carefully pinned another section of delicate lace to the bodice of Avis’s wedding dress. The ivory silk was soft under my fingers, almost impossibly so, and the hand-beaded deta
“I think you’re going to change so many lives,” I said to Eliza. “Those kids are so lucky to have you.” Eliza looked down, her cheeks pink. “Thank you, Audrey. Really.” Tina piped up next. “And my LGBT counseling department is finally off the ground! ” She paused, leaning into my mother, who was
Audrey After a long flight, we finally touched down in Italy. The sunlight streaming in through the plane window was a promising golden hue, and just the sight of it made me feel like my heart was about to leap out of my chest. “I might need a nap when we get to the villa,” Edwin yawned, shaking
And as I watched, I felt a hand slip into mine. I glanced up, finding Edwin beside me, his gaze focused on the runway but his approval humming through the bond. My mother stood on my other side, wrapping her arm around my shoulders. A lump rose in my throat, and I couldn’t even speak. None of us c
Audrey Edwin and I emerged from the small room, his hand still resting protectively on my back. The hustle and bustle of last-minute preparations immediately hit us, assistants running back and forth, models being ushered into position, and the soft hum of the audience’s chatter drifting through t
“There’s always time,” I whispered, grabbing the wrist of his free hand and pulling it close to peer at his watch. The movement caused him to topple forward, and he caught himself on his other palm, caging me against the hard wood of the vanity. “But maybe not enough time to waste right now.” Edwi
Audrey Before I could even answer his question, Edwin rushed past me and locked the door. When he turned back to me, he was grinning from ear to ear. The sight of that mischievous look on his face made my breath hitch. Once, it had been like pulling teeth to get the man to smile. And now here he
He didn’t need to tell me twice. I tore into the wrapping paper, revealing a soft red scarf. I could tell immediately that it was handmade—there were more than a few uneven stitches, and the outline was lumpy. It was far from perfect. But I loved it all the more for that. “Goddess, Edwin,” I laugh
Audrey The morning of the show was a frenzy. No, more than a frenzy. It was complete and utter chaos. I spent the entire morning from sunup to noon running endlessly from one end of the venue to the other, desperately trying to make sure every last detail was perfect. The racks were lined with c
“Uh… Yeah,” Malakai said. “Coffee would be nice.” A few minutes later, the three of us sat around the table, steaming cups of pitch black coffee in our hands. I kept it bitter, just in case Malakai was here to stir up more shit. It burned a little going down, but I sipped it anyway. Malakai look