Lost Without You

fading, surrounded by the twisted remains of the crash. The sharp, acrid scent of gasoline hung heavy in the air, mixing with the thick smoke rising from the

d to s

oss the dark street. The stars twisting and warping as her vision

glimpses of people running, their voices blending into a distant hum. A man dialed for an

h the murmur, its sharpness cutting into her fading conscious

ng closer, suffocating. She tried to lift her hand, to scream for help, but the weight of

ng louder, slicing through the stillness. The crowd parted as t

rippled through the crowd, their curious eyes wide with fear, stran

maybe in his twenties, hovered above her. She felt the slight pressu

s muffled and distant, like echoes through water. The stars above twinkled, unca

t wann

ng to her skin, the once-soft fabric now stained and stiff with blood. The engagement ring o

was replaced by the harsh lights of an ambulance. Oxygen masks, hurried hands, and urgent voic

need to f

word. Her breath was weak, a whisper sli

eaned closer, his ear h

her voice faint, slipping

edic urged, his voice cal

heek as her vision dimmed,

Three month

offee filled the small bakery, wrap

eeted, setting a warm loaf on t

ne smile lifting her tired eyes. "Good mor

e radiated with every interaction. Her short-cropped hair framed her face neatly, and her fair skin had a rosy glow fr

his hands trembling slightly. His thin frame seemed smaller beneath the

ge with a warm smile. "An

e lines etched by time. "She had triplets," he anno

g!" She packed the bread carefully, sliding the ba

he bag with careful hands. "That

ching in her throat before she let out a practiced smile. "Harry's good," she replied

ot?" George asked with a playful g

o show the way her stomach tightened at the question. It was the sa

s," she quipped lightly, but her

w, her eyes tracing the way the sunlight caught on the wet

thud of bread loaves landing on the counter. She moved automatically, greeting customers, exchanging small t

rom his gigs and Sarah's life savings. It wasn't much, but it had been enough to paint the walls a warm cream,

It was the way his eyes sparkled when he talked about making enough money to support his acting until he could land a bi

every

came hers alone-her early mornings, her late nights, her tired feet, and her smiling face for every customer who c

y d

ou look e

ssants, her apron smeared with flour. She tucked the phone between her s

, wiping sweat from her brow.

g too much alone. What's H

He's... working on his audi

spoke again, softer. "I know you love

the corner laundromat. She placed the day's earnings on the small table, counting each bill with tired pr

buzzed wit

the theater. I'm perf

. She typed back, Good luck, her fingers trembling, before

he plain walls gold. She adjusted the soft blue dress she had chosen, smoothing it over her hips as she brushed a loose curl behind her ea

lay on speaker as Maria'

ites you to one of his plays?" Maria

studying her as if she were someone else. "Yeah. Looks

You're too patient, Sarah. When's he going to step up? You've

busy," she replied, placing her earrings on, her hands ste

eserve someone who chooses you

e glanced at the photo on her dresser-her and Harry, arms wrapped

d, reading it again. There had been no follow-u

ee lights flickering, half-broken. The letters spelled out only fragments of wo

over the ornate brass handles befo

ill outside. The theater smelled of old wood and something floral-like lilies left too long in the wat

dded as she s

s the cavernous lobby, bouncing

ce an

s early by five minutes, but the building's si

oticed a single spotlight seeping from the half-open theater doors ahead. The

ed the d

rows of faded red seats swallowing the space, whil

stood in

loose black pants and a crisp white shirt, sleeves rolled up to reveal lean forea

mouth, and h