Faded Hearts, Renewed Love

y's

y exhaustion like a slap to the face. He was yelling at me from the hallway, his tone shar

h-but I forced myself to sit up, clutching the sheets around me as if

" I muttered, my voice weak

'm driving you to the airport. You're leaving today, w

married him that he wanted nothing to do with me, so why should today be

? Or was it just a way for him

my thoughts, but I knew one thing for sure: Damon didn't care about me. He didn't care abou

't fully ready to go. I hated the thought of leaving, hated the idea of n

nd. The room spun for a second, and I felt a wave of nausea wash over me. But

like he couldn't care less about the situation. His face was impa

r," he said, h

made of lead as I climbed into the back seat of the car, trying to i

e worlds apart, two people who had once been close and now couldn't even stand to be in the same room together. Hi

pounding, my body aching from the exhaustion and fever. I barely even looked at him as

concrete floor seeping through my shoes as I tri

omething inside me broke. I wasn't strong eno

ched me, and for a moment, I thought maybe there

give you this. It's a little something for your time abroad.

m, a little sur

be covered while you're overseas. Mr. Lams also hope

all sigh of relief escaped me. A

n't that I was ungrateful. It just didn't feel lik

the space where Damon had just been, I realized how much I was leavi

*****

onth

*****

omised had never come through. And now, I was living in a rundown apartment, sharing a tiny room with a roommate who co

tranger in my own skin. My hair was messy, my eyes red from exhaustion an

this. But what else

I had nothing. Not a penny to my name. And now I h

miracle. But the message that popped up on my screen o

oz

n't bel

who could help. But everyone I tried-no one answered. Not Damon. Not his grandmother. I co

e baby. I couldn't give up. I wouldn't give

r choice. I was going to call Damon. He might not care a

n my ear, but he

urpri

e I was su

the phone

for a moment, I couldn't b

to say. I didn't

m even though my insides were twisting.

or a moment, and then Damon's voice,

asked. "Why are

. I need to speak to your grandmother. She promised to

st so you wouldn't bother her. And don't call me again for this kind

my chest, but I didn't re

r a moment, it almost sounded... b

different than it ever had before. Li

ave an ans