ng in her mind. "Have you no decency?" She was dirty, her d

n apartment complex on the other side of town. She knocked on the door,

ose whispered, pulling Ava int

She told her grandmother everything, the sobs shaking her enti

tears subsided. "But you can't force someone to like you back.

safe for the first time in a long time. The next day, while helping her grandmother

dmired. "Someone quiet, elegant, and simple,"

ing Ava

quiet and simple, she would give him quiet and simple. She too

dress, her hair was tied back neatly, and she wore no makeup, revealing the pale sk

meeting and walked up to him

quick, dismissive scan of h

e said, her voice barely a whisper.

ay. "This is a new tactic

to become what he wanted, was devastating.

out of her, raw and loud, tu

s grip painfully tight, and dragged her out of the building

close to hers. "What is your goal he

udden warmth under her nose. She touched it and her fingers came

howed him the blood. "I'm sick. I'm really sic

.. give me six months. Be with me for six mo

was no compassion in his eyes, only cold disbelief. He looked

voice laced with contempt. He wiped his hand

car without another word, leaving her leaning against