12. Mrs. De Ambrose

DANTE

He was pacing up and down the living room, he had not been this restless since his son's accident. Why did he even listen to her? He should have dropped the call and let her fend for herself in this city. But there was still a part of him that could just not leave his mother stranded, and he wished he could shut down that part or his heart, or at least, mute its voice.

When he heard the front door swing open, his heartbeat ceased. Everywhere went quiet and still and all he could hear were her footsteps. He was backing the door and he was dreading the idea of having to turn and look at her face, he doubted that he was ready for the wave of emotions that would come with it.

"Do you hate me so much that you now don't even want to look at me?" He heard her voice raw for the first time in years and shivers went down his spine. Despite himself, he admitted that he missed hearing her speak. But the weight of what she had done was greater than the stupid longing he felt.

He mustered s