to resc

shield her from the insanity. It's t

xhaustion, and ..anger. Ange

se, I swallow, forcing

Watching her at the edge of a panic atta

door swings open. Her secur

er. "Shall we?" I

ps back, shak

ait outside until it's safe to go

out

no reason for that

ression. She doesn't tru

e of control and safety rathe

eyes sunken, in need of rest. I

I soften

o the Patio

iftly and I

, even though her breathing is shaky. My fingers mov

ps as we re

breath

a daze. Stroking petals, moving spirally, taking deep breaths.

tain, then pulls them back in thought. Insti

un reflects on the wat

he or look away. A beauti

ould be furious. But her shoulders are finally dropping. G

didn't know I was

y on the table. I thank he

he's sitting at the far end, basking un

n. "It's a meadow, not a pat

sped to her chest,

eturned slightly, and her brea

re seated i

s both brows in

momile tea with dark choco

your nerves,"

ips in a showy manner,

ks at me and the arr

did my h

the tea to her nose. Her fin

s contemplating, she inhales

goes well with the

teeth as she d

r" she

"I'm glad you're

irling my tea l

aux," she

I'd end

n. I smile inside, I

his," I rep

r eyes, "You w

ere to come wil

s that going

ored look, taking anot

Desirée." I take my time to answer her

ake and tea,

ature. The good type of dark chocolate,

r, taking a

een my lips, and our pl

into l

ding a smirk. She take

esistible invite," I say, 'befo

waiting look,

d before I can finish. My sto

nt to control my story,

e there's nothing in her mou

f her mouth, licking h

that mean

n't they?" I com

me, unimpress

cratch. I never have. Anythin

ge and they'll say, daddy's money, mumm

t me, caught

e

ol your perception with your work,

he asks leaning in, fold

something real, control perception this

story, your work. I wan

er. Not really. Was it? No. This was about he

hold on it. I want to learn

experiment?" The faint but constan

kes a deep breath and carefull

kind of villain ready to

kes. "Control? You want to

, "Are you

rls in my mouth. I

do all I've done. Pr

e throws her hands up

cake, taking

s, shaking my he

building? You think you

s her f

a good Samaritan?

s got an idea. "How do you

word control

owly, tapin

worry about" I kee

d the vultures circle

happen," I

things

ease, "You'r

uarded,"

he takes an angry bit

observer

ze sha

w me. I'm not

don't say anything. I le

, my voice low. "We have time to k

even anger this time. Something... else. Maybe unders

der, snapping her gaze away

d with amusement. "Quin