HE NEVER LEFT.

me

ut me, as usual. I replied to him an

okay?" Dan

"Just Adrian. He wanted to

u a lot?". I shrugged. "I guess so. He's

Instead he changed the topic. "Do you

hed. "Then a patient smiles at me and I

angerous su

d, wrapping my ha

ations happening around us, the cups clinking together and even the music playing in the cafe. I didn't know

orhood was pretty and full of life. We saw street musicians, a little girl pulled us into dance with them. Daniel was

I remembered what living felt like be

he asked me a question. "When's th

onths of night shifts, missed birthdays, failed relations

had been going on in my life. Somewhere along the way, I

ed back to the car. He opened the passenger door

or Swift on the radio, and we were bo

er and also a terrible dancer?"

come on." He repl

ing into my driveway. He turne

at?" I

sayin

few seconds later, I heard his car disappear down the street.

brows. She turned back to look at me, folding her

ds huh?" She a

ld friend." I lied. She cleared her throat

are your only

. She sat down on the couch, tappin

e seconds,

nothing came out. Zara

nt upstairs. I took a shower and laid

s to the waiters at the cafe and also how he talks too much

member the last time I had fallen asleep smiling. Even after everything that had be

a was already in the kitchen making breakfast, humming to hersel

I said as I pu

looked at me for a s

's happy

What makes y

ling since you c

ave

u h

ed for a slice of bread.

d argue back, t

t it," Z

later, I hea

she's

r bag and two cups of coffee. She placed th

"Well, not really, but I wanted breakfa

way here for brea

me for inf

here the convers

't any inf

a chair and s

rday with some guy none of us have eve

n beside her

n waiting

en the two of

anned this,

" Amy a

nd picked u

you want

e she'd just w

ryth

eyes and smi

own, we had coffee together and talked about our jobs and our live

other, smiling at me in a w

ened?" Amy aske

usicians and some kids. A little girl pulled us into the dance circle and w

ylor swift on the way back, we sang along. It was

by Zara. "What doe

ste like?" Amy a

. "Woah woah, taste? I

that was it." I took a sip of my coffee and went to the livi

es he lo

nds

al

ing questions

ow him?"

of my neck. Amy immediately knew I

now h

n my knees. "

's Mr Reed's son." Amy s

at the hospital. His

picked up a piece of panc

ng in the background. I didn't answer her. For what felt like a