LATE NIGHT WITH A GHOST.

inside my head over and over again. It wasn't the fact that I had slept with

be possible. I

d up at the bar in the first place. I remembered crying. I remembered drinkin

ran to me, holding me steadily. Lots of emotions running through me. I loo

n next to me on the floor. "It's not you

n't have enough yet I gave him enough. Even when Josh, my brother was starved, even when he had to drop out of school, I didn't care because I was

s said,also sobbing. "You're tearing me dow

. I lifted my head up from her shoulder

down." I broke down again. "I let everyone down. Josh wou

all he has right now." Tess said. Standing up, pulling me along

at the same time. "Then w

oes it matter? It's just a one night st

ke advantage of me like that? He might be well

do have a point but.

ly. "The bar..."

at me conf

pened or who it was..." I hurried to the kitchen, grabbed my ba

ss yelled out... but I was a

★

cked with loud music, drunken laughter, and flashing lights. Now, it was almost empty. A few workers were wiping tables while soft music

smile. "Um... is yo

sly. Smile flattered.

the back of my neck. "I just

guess a sigh of relie

s later, he returned with a middle-aged man whose hair was beg

smiled p

nted to

ed around at the people nearby. "

gestured toward a small balcony o

e brushed against my fac

t, neither

ven sure h

er waited

gently. "What'

breath. "I was

d, studyi

s eyes. "Oh..." he said. "

u d

te." A small chuckle escaped him.

to my chee

yourself drinking alone last night" he continued. "You l

away, emb

oticed how nervous I look

"I... honestl

ghed bitterly. "Well... ex-boyfrie

sor

unk becau

's expressi

llowed. "I thought h

out he had already left the coun

pread acros

a whisper. "I don't know who I left with

rry," he said sincerely. "I wish I could tell you. Be

en to see me lea

hinking hard. "Honest

eart

oor and the office. I remember seeing you drinking by yourself..." He paused. "But aft

r a brief second. "

y snapped

it.

through

e C

You have cameras o

e

lease see t

re smiling. "I don't usually show c

the look on your face," he continued, "

d with relief

toward t

with

topping in front of a small room. He pushed

showing different parts of the bar. A desktop computer sat beneath them, connected

ured as his fingers mo

ates and times appeared on the screen

es

hen it should

already sta

let there be som

clicked on a

ard before pressing play. At first, nothing seemed unusual. Cars drove past. People walk

ed the pla

of the screen began c

e slowly pulled up in

pped. "Wait!

used the video. I pointed

at me. "

. "Yes... that's

looked exactly like the one from my memory. The same glossy

e that's

r pressed

conds, nothi

opened. Someone stepped out. I uncon

wearing a da

re was calm, almost effort

ou pau

. I squinted at the screen.

amera quality wasn't helping either. Everything from his shoulde

as if answering a call. He stood there for a second. Then he turne

both kept watching. A second later...The scre

e frowned and clicked the mouse a few times. "Hmm..

you mean

ioned that night." My face fell

e blank screen

re should

e team fixed it the following morning, but everythin

desperately been

yself, refusing to give up

d at me before no

e limousine. The man. The

t complaining,

very moveme

ry tiny detail.Again.N

smiled sym

he ninth replay, my eyes were beginning to hurt. I still couldn'

an stepped out of the limousine once more. Phone pressed against his ear. Walking away. I followed h

aught my ey

ately stopped the

e monitor. My heartbea

the side of t

f his suit... Was part of a tattoo. It wasn't very clear. Most of it was hidden. But the little

image. His face was sti

s the first real clue to recognizin