HE NEVER LEFT.

A'S

he meaning

is phone into my hand. I

s a text from my

r things

r contact

ile returning his phone to him.

why it came fr

oughts and also to explain myself. But the problem wasn't how to explain, it

was at that time, I wasn't on my phone. By the time my

ing the night shift at th

tion, staring at a blank computer screen. My

id, dropping a stack of folders

ook up. "D

he said, pulling up a c

David. I'm real

earlier this evening, and it st

who ended it," I whispere

im to pack his things and leave. But Amy,

d looked close

mean you didn

age earlier. It came from

said, my v

to sleep, and I remember waking up to him blockin

l," Amy said quietly, p

need real sleep. You're s

r, I heard footsteps

n," Dr. Jaso

out in the open. He looked neat in his blue s

. Jason?

over some files in

now,

d feel her watching me as I stood

ffice was short,

ery strict rules about d

t us, he could lose his

total secret we kept hi

d shut behind us, the professional act

ed me into the dark corner behind h

hispered, leaning his

d," I lied, lo

ya," Jason said, his thu

ss all night. Talk

," I whispered, pu

nd I can't focus right now. Amy is alr

k on the doo

cleared his throat and stepped ba

ainst my pants, tryi

" Jason c

there. She looked back and fo

le appeared

interrupt,

is outside. You

hurried out of the room. T

nd took the elevato

y. Through the front glass doors,

lowing hard, but my eyes went straight t

and my folders. The moment he saw me, he gave me a warm sm

es late," Adrian s

ands. I felt weird. "Adrian, how did you get my

hift, Maya. I noticed them when I dropped off your lunch. I just used the spare key to

table? I usually kept them on my belt. But looking at his eyes, I figu

ing him open the car

he asked as he got into the dri

ate." I answ

ive. "Aw, I'm losing my detectiv

g lucky guesses. He knew when I skipped meals, he knew when I couldn't sleep, and he always showed up

ddenly, my phone buzzed in my lap, the

k when I saw

ing to m

was you. Ju

the phone and opened our texts. I

AM, the exact time I was standing in the co

all me again.

ched my phone all night. It had been inside my pocket the

g okay?" A

adn't noticed him leaning over toward my si

he phone and hid i

verything is fine.

ack at the dark road ahead. He reac

ns, Maya. People out there just bre

ch a movie but my mind was still on the message that David sent me. Every one of my relationships over the past years have been ending t