228

RONAN

The next day seemed to start early. The sunlight crept through the blinds. I got out of bed and went out to take a bath. For some reason, Maxine's move yesterday plagued my mind.

I hadn't expected her friend to show up, and I hadn’t expected to see Maxine’s face light up the way it had when she’d seen her. That kind of happiness was genuine. And it felt foreign to me. But as quickly as it appeared, it had vanished the moment we left.

I told myself I didn't care. I shouldn't care. But here I was dressing earlier than usual, preparing to visit her. It had become a routine for me to check on her before I got swept away with my problems.

I’d made it seem like it was just to make sure she didn't try to escape. Like I was trying to keep her under my watch. But, deep down, I knew better. I wanted her to smile, like she had with her friend, to me. I wanted to be the cause of it.

By the time I made my way to her room, I had already decided on today’s plan. I knocked once. And then let