Twenty-Seven Days of Deceit

me, the road stretching out like a black ribbon into the night. My mother was at rest n

ng, I saw a light on in my living room

a trench coat draped over the back, her arms crossed tightly over her

ith accusation. "I' ve been waiting for hours. You haven' t answered a sin

e my breath. She was wo

y expression blank. "I

ened, and a flicker of something that looked like guilt crossed h

opping into a sympathetic whisper.

wards me, her hands outstr

t,"

des. "I know you' re hurting. And I know I m

ulled out a small, velvet box. It wasn' t the s

olding it out to me. "But I want you to know

The promise inside that box was worthless

Olivia," I said

randon. I told him it' s over. It was a mistake, a stupid, terrible mistake. He pressured

ell-rehearsed sweet talk. For a moment, the old Liam, th

' t that m

sionate declaration, the doo

n step

ite one, the one with the faded band logo. He yawned, rubbing the sleep

his voice thick with s

artment. He had been sleeping in my bed. Wearing my clothes. Whi

bsolute, so profound,

te. She spun around, he

oing? I told you to wait

ncerned. He walked over to the kitchen and opened my fri

it' s not what it looks like. He showed up here, he

ng. No anger, no jealousy, not even sadness anymore. Just a complete and utter v

, my voice barely a whisper. I

t matter?" she cried. "Of c

re. His bedroom now, I guess. I pulled my suitcase from the top of the closet a

am, please, don' t do this. We can

, watching the scene with amusement,

and walked past them, h

' s voice cracked. She grabbed the ha

suitcase from her grip. I opened the door and stepped ou

oor shut behind me, the click of the lat