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One

Natalie

My heart raced with every conscious step toward the door I’d left a s for in a cozy warm bed Tears spilled from my eyes as I forced myself to open the door and step out into the hallway I held the door so it was closed with a quiet click I couldn’t believe he hadn’t awoken froh my veins

So out I drifted to the subway The feeling of loss was so overwhel

I couldn’t say for sure I was in love with Liam He would be the only person I’d loved beside my mother and Jody I didn’t have thethat had rooted itself inside me for the man I couldn’t shake If I didn’t yet love him, I ell on the way

Back at Ms Allen’s house, I crept through the house like a thief and gotI dumped it on the back step and hoped it would be there when I ca, I didn’t want theht

I left out the front of Ms Allen’s house, eyeing the street for the limo It wasn’t there Call me crazy, I still felt eyes on me I walked in the direction of the subway Once I rounded the corner, I turned and jogged behind the houses to getfrom her back porch where I’d left it I hadn’t decided if I would run from what Father wanted, but I wanted the option to leave toithout hi

I made it to work on ti before my shift ended was out It was an all-hands-on-deck situation It hadn’t been this busy since my first shift on the job

I caught up with Ms Allen before she left “I just wanted to say thank you”

Her motherly smile almost pushed me to tears “No need to thank me We should have dinner tomorrow Aren’t you off?”

“That’s the thing I have a faency that today will be my last day”

“Oh no! Is everything okay?”

Her kindness nearly broketo her “It will be fine”