ts were signed, and instead of staying an extra day as planned, she decided to catch an earlier flight

at the familiar sight of the warm lights glo

xpected to be greeted by Mark, maybe even with one of

ng felt

ng around. Then, faintly, she heard

ows fu

ere coming f

ry step. As she neared the bedroom door, she noticed

n-Mark'

eath h

, it can

hands, she push

saw shatter

ark. In bed

si

throat, a sharp, painfu

lena turne

o her chest, as if covering herself could undo the damage. Mar

hed, as if searching

were no ri

r lungs. The room spun. A wa

g her head. "No, this isn't r

face pale, tears pooling in her

tter laugh escaping her lips. "What c

e refused to let them fall.

g for her. "Baby, plea

stepping back as if his touch would b

h rage. "How could you?" she choked. "You'

d. "I-I didn't mean

. "Oh, really? You didn't mean to sneak around behind my back

, sobbing. "Celi

le

ed in the room

er heart, already shatter

s if she were a strang

ng. "I tried to stop, but I

breath, her chest ris

thing. He di

the wor

confirmed

g. She had fought for them, for their relationship

th

gaze flickering between the tw

t," she whispered, her

her word, she turn

n't loo

n't sure she'd ever recover

ckles turned white. The city lights blurred past her, but she barely noticed them

n't real. It

ry fiber of her being rejected the image burned into her mind-Mark, the ma

over to the side of the road. Her whole body trembled as she

ears, as if she could block o

, I lov

ly. "No... no, no, no." She rocked slig

s a ni

ad t

s and find herself back in her warm bed, Mark sleeping peacefully beside her. She wou

how it was s

g brought no relief. She was still here.

"My baby... My little sister... N

more than just her sister-she was her world. Celine had s

given her

own her face. "Why, Elena?" she murmured to t

deep, it felt like h

k-how c

Had it all been a lie? Had he been with Elena this wh

ed breath, her nails

felt

and trusting the two people

of rage surg

hey snuck around behind her back? While she was away

a fresh wave of n

r-streaked face, her

s a

o deeply. A fool for

red, but she refused

back, she took a d

from her-her trust, her lo

ld not take

the car back in gear and

now where sh

hing-Celine Dupont