Summer's Last Firefly

d from me in a hoarse, primal roar, like a l

pushed me, bullied me, confident I would eventually cave. After a

e, Vincent." This time,

s hands, which had been gripping mine tightly,

of silence that used to crush me, suffocate me. But no

Vincent stood motionless, his shoulders slightly slumped, bu

he heated confrontati

ed against the shards

t with me. I used to rave about its durability to Vincent, who had mocked me for clinging to s

ike us. Once, I'd believed our relationship was unbreakable, that with enough ef

l poise was intact, his emotions tu

heir eyes flitting between the scattered contents an

le, picking up the last piece. "But i

to the elevato

it was best to discard it

rched on his high nose bridge and a Mickey Mouse pajama set. His scholarly

reveal me, soaked to th

to get my umbrella would've meant running into Vincent again, so I stubbornly pressed on. O

me and gently dried my damp hair. "So, my dear editor, how did

Donald Duck pajamas he'd lent me. Even in the mi

plaining that I'd been forced into work I did

quit?"

"Not officially – they haven't accepted it yet

huckle rumble

eyes brimming with feigned innocence. "Ahem, I promise I'm not

g. "Taking a break isn't a bad thing. You've been staying up late every nigh

lculating my savings. Without enough for a down payment and no s

assuringly. "Don't worry

arms around his narrow waist. "With what? The scraps they pay y

get a new job and take me a

I lifted my head, catching the

ike a gentle light that

ing his nose against mine. "Didn't you say you'd

unch. "I've never met anyone who

better get

n the living room, we completely

Clint shouted, "Oh no!" and dashed into the

ing table, rubbing my hands together for warmth as he em

instead?" he sug

lly stocked wine cabinet filled with bottles he treasured. Accordin

label, leaving the bottles unmarked. Choosing a drink wa

asked as he han

ked. "N

balance of sweetness. I asked if he remembered the bran

ng something about how it had been

nce about a knight who fell for a maiden, only to realize she was in love with the sorcerer who cursed him. By the end, I was laughing

igning nonchalance as he dabbed his eyes. But then,

reen. Noticing my tipsy, half-closed eyes, he