Sweat encompasses me as I jerk abruptly out of bed. Wiping my forehead furiously, I get up and make the usual stumble to the kitchen. I walk down those long hallways slowly. Trying to absorb all the family pictures on the walls as I pass, memories everlasting. Even if never again. As I near the end of the dismally narrow lengthway, something catches my eye. I had been on autopilot but…these were...

She breathed like that of an angel. Corny, I know. But the way she exhaled was so soft. The sound, it was ridiculously comforting. Supple. There’s really no other way to explain it. Think of how crazy that is to say? *I love the way she breathes* but it’s true, laughably so.

Most notably though, there was also darkness within her. Wickedness. She was like a pricker bush with berries. So so sweet...

Disgust surged through my body. Did I just hear correctly? Not, HIM. Not now!

Desperate to escape the lies he spread, I moved hours away to start over. Or so people think, anyway. He complicated my life. Most people would think it’s impulsive or childish to move, just because an ex persuaded everyone we knew that I was a whore.

But it was more than that. And he’s the only one who knows. The on...

I awoke frantically. The alarm on my phone blared the specific tune I chose for Tuesday. Damn it. Yup, day 3. Unless it’s a glitch in my alarms. Really tried staying up last night. I wanted to see if it would change anything. I had to try something.

Aleya woke suddenly now. Her eyes darting around the room until they locked with mine. She gave me a questioning face and I just nodded.

“Same day...