Heartprints in the Void

orrid HR videos that I've been watching for the

wait until Krina gets up to follow behind her. We part ways when she approaches the floor's kitchen area an

myself onto the passenger seat. Closing the door, I press the speaker b

lly. "What's up? How's your firs

ver-so grateful for having a great friend who's

not to let what I'm feeling complet

e line. I'm almost sure that she didn't hear

eart at my throat. "No, Ava. I wish I were. And apparently his dad own

e sincerity in her voice only making it harder for me to hold it together. "

t just leave, and I can't even try to get fired because it's gonna look really bad and no one is gonna w

e attempt to hold myself together utterly useless. I pull my glasses o

. Make it clear that your relationship will only be a professional relationship. Maybe if

r how much I tell myself otherwise, a part o

m. I just regret

nant of the tears from my face and put my g

o convince myself otherwise, I wish that it weren't better that way. I

ant to k

saw Cade before everything fell apart. I remember th

y, it was

for him, but as my eyes flickered from the beautiful picture of Olivia-his mother-to the casket where her body rested, I

re no tears in his eyes-no life. As I looked around the open field, tombstones fading in the background, I

ving only known her for the better part of a year, I

he was just having a hard time dealing with the loss of his mother. I would have accepted that, knowing how

er it was that was going on in

was

ltimately, I rea

s me out of my thoughts, snapping me back

ope

nty. "I'll let you go. I need

ation in her own voice, her reluctance to leave me

hings about her is t

at with my eyes closed. "It's all gonna be fine. It's going to be fin

ore I head back into the building and to the cafeteria that I over

lot of stress and anxiety, but I know that I have to eat somethin

l really

pite how ridiculously overpriced they are. Accompanied by a Coke Zero, I find the emp

ve times already. It's hardly enough to distract me from the situation, but it's enough to release some endorphins while I try to finish my meal.

r floor, crossing my arms just beneath my chest as I hug myself for comfort. For a second, it works. Unfortunately, within

be fucking

apping back to the floor as he moves to s

t to move or make a sound. It's funny that my anxiety often convinces me

this opportunity to get the hell out and away from him, but as a pair of men emerge i

, I'm the first one out. I don't waste any time, moving back to my desk only t

is happen

n as I log back into my laptop. I watch as he shuts the glass door and lowers himself onto his seat

strictly professional. May

ater breaks that I take throughout the remaining four hours aren't enough to stop my brain from wanting to shut dow

an take four more

r as she rises to her feet. "Finally, we can get the hell out of here," she says as she beg

u

n on my feet and begin to pack my

Bridges' Bar at 6? The one Cade mentioned i

is what

.

eally rat

er back and pulls in her chair, insisting, "It'll be fun! I'll be there and so will the r

r to me as she whispers, "And the drin

as I would much rather go home and cuddle with Bubbles, I know that it'll reflect

I forfeit, telling her, "A