My heels clicked on the marble as I stepped back to pick it up. I clutched it tightly, the envelope now pressed to my stomach.
The elevator door opened with a sharp creak, and he stepped into it. There was a long pause until another creak from the metal door came again, along with his voice.
“Stay safe tonight.”
That was it.Stay safe tonight.It was quiet, barely audible, but I caught it. What he said and how he said it, it was like he didn’t want to, but it forced its way out anyway. And I didn’t understand why.
Does he care? About me?
I shook my head, hair flying frantically in my face as I mentally scolded myself for thinking such a thing. Rich people have money to spare, and he just happened to bump into a charity case on a random Friday night.
I exhaled before taking a step towards the buttons on the wall, pressing down. Waiting. Work. Focus on work.
I shoved the envelope back into my bag, feeling completely defeated. He won’t take it back, and he made it clear twice, well thrice, because he slammed the door in my face two times that night, and I still didn’t get it. He doesn’t want it; he just wanted to do some charity for the night.
Typical Joshua.Get used to it, Aurora. People like him don’t have room to change, not when they have come this far with hurting you.
After a few seconds, thedingsound came as the elevator doors opened. I clutched my bag strap tightly as my heels clicked forward into the cold box.
The elevator hummed quietly as it descended.
He doesn’t own you…
The elevator slowed, a soft ding echoing through the lobby. The doors slid open.
And I froze.
No.
No.
Aly. Layla. Jennie.
Right there, standing in front of the lift, laughing, their voices bright until they saw me.
The sound cut out as if a wire had been pulled.
Jennie’s smile faltered first, her arm still mid-gesture, clutching her phone. Aly’s eyes widened, flicking from the name tag to the skirt, to the neckline, to my heels. Layla just… blinked, the confusion on her face melting into something softer…
None of them spoke.
I didn’t move.
I couldseethe questions in their eyes.Why are you dressed like that? Where are you going? Are you okay?
I wanted to answer, God; I wanted to so badly. I wanted to explain myself, tell them it’s not what it looks like, but the words wouldn’t come. They never did when I needed them most.
So I did what I always did.
Lowered my gaze. Adjusted the strap of my bag. Stepped forward. The heels clicked once, twice, sharply against the marble.
As I passed them, I felt the heat of their stares, the shock that none of them could hide. Jennie shifted, as if she might reach out, but I kept walking. Through the doors. Into the cool night air.
Only when I had made it far enough from that building did I let myself breathe again, shallow, shaky, half-sobbing breaths.
No…
Why now? Why did they come? Why did they show up at the same time I—
