A

, I headed to my favorite Whisk And

th the aroma of freshly brewed coffee

swallowed hard, my throat tightening pai

hree weeks. Finally getting it made m

ter corner near the wall. My palms felt

ed, glancing o

wasn't like I was smuggling

me of the person that made the

stantly. I shifted on my feet and kept leaning a

. Who w

d Sartre bracelet in her belongings. She suddenly remembered that it w

dopted me. As a matter of fact, I had no idea they weren't my parents un

nts. But this bracelet showed up all of a sudden, and n

t the back for quality verification. What my parents and the others didn't k

had it on when I was rescued, it must've been gifted to me by my family, ri

why I was found unconscious by the river, why they a

my nightmare-the one where a younger one

getting the be

said. "She's currently fifty-three year

chest, like an overblown

't be my m

bleeding through my words. "B-But if she'd made the p

might be someone related to

drowned me. "I did track down her old address, but it turns out she moved out a year

this, Steven." I had no idea my fingers had

othing. Take

e disco

ng his words and weighing the possib

t? What if I was abandoned

A mother could not despise

e wall, forcing myself to return to reality.

s. The tray clattered to the floor, the coffee splashing onto my shoes. The he

ective gaze making my cheeks flush with embarr

I should've been more careful," the words tumbled out of my

but I didn't know what else to do other than pi

called, tinged

m the floor. My heart stuttered as I locke

a gasp, like I couldn't believe

me in from head to toe. "What the hell? Look at you! You're all grown

as he pulled me into a hug. It was the kind of hug that felt

.

notice how he'd filled out-broad shoulders, a strong jawline, and a confidence in his demeanor that wasn't there b

é, laughing in-between conversations

ee him again-my child

n few occasions when we coincidentally met in pu

mum and mine didn't remain friends any longer as Jasper's

transferred and moved out of the city co

liar if I claimed

th remnants of laughter from a previous

nodded. "You've grown

say it like I've

my best friend back then? You wer

he smile creeping across m

him when I felt my

went on talking as I reached for my bag and pulled out my pho

ass up and walk aw

ne, as though someone ha

ell was t

r was saying, his tone reflective, ignorant of t

mum insisted. She said you were bad luck an

ck to Jasper. I'd get back to the loser later, but f

ftened further, revealing

I was a young coward who could

tle squeeze. "Hey, stop it, okay? It wasn't your fault. You were scar

his time, the vibration

ad as I withdrew my hand from Ja

five seconds to

iately, anot

atience do not ha