LOGINANNA POVI did not answer away because if I opened my mouth I knew it would come out wrong too fast too broken too angry. Instead, I grabbed the keys, the metal cold against my palm, and that coldness made everything inside me feel worse not better.Rita reached me before I turned."Do not do this, " she said, grabbing my wrist lightly not forceful but firm enough to stop me from slipping past her. "You are emotional now Anna you do not make decisions like this when you are emotional.""This is not emotions, " I cut in, my voice sharper than I intended, because even hearing the word made my chest tighten. "This is clarity. I am done being played. Done watching things happen around me like I'm some background character in my own life, Anna's life."Her eyes narrowed slightly concern pulling at her expression as if she was trying to figure out how far I had already gone in my mind, Anna's mind."Played by who?" she asked quietly though she already knew the answer was not going to calm a
JACOB POVThe laughter was still in the room like a feeling when Rita leaned back on the couch. She had her plate in one hand. She was using a funny voice like she was pretending to be Mrs Mayers. Rita was acting like she was very important like she owned the world."You should come home Anna," Rita said, as if she were drinking tea from a cup that was not there. "It is time. You need to be taken care of " and then she started laughing. She was laughing so hard that she was almost choking.I laughed with her not because it was super funny. It just felt good to laugh. For a minute I could forget about Jacob, Kathryn, and everyone else who was trying to tell me what to do."You are bad " I said, shaking my head as I reached for my glass. My voice was lighter than it had been in a long time.Rita just waved her hand still smiling. Then she leaned forward looking serious all of a sudden even though her eyes were still sparkling with humor."They all deserve to be treated the way they trea
JACOB POVThe rooftop bar looked really different at night. It was like the city below was quieter so the people here could pretend their problems were not so bad. I was already there when Kathryn got there. I was sitting near the edge where the wind was blowing. I kept my drink steady while I waited to see if Kathryn would actually show up.I told myself I did not expect anything from her. My eyes kept looking at the entrance like I was waiting for her to come in. Part of me already knew she would show up even if she was still mad at me.Then I heard her voice behind me. "You are early " she said. Her voice was clear and calm. When I turned around I saw her standing there like she did not have a problem on her mind even though I knew she did.I stood up slowly so she could see me. I let the space between us feel like it was on purpose, not an accident. I looked at Kathryn for a moment before I said anything. "You look good Kathryn," I said calmly because I knew she still liked it wh
ANNA POVShe put her teacup down on the table. It made a soft clicking sound. Then she looked at me. It was like she was trying to figure out how much I had messed up before she even got there."I did not come here to cause trouble, " she said. Her voice was calm. I could hear something cold underneath. "I will not put up with disrespect. Especially not from someone I am trying to talk to calmly."Her words sounded nice on the surface. They were actually a warning. It made my chest feel tight. I knew what kind of person she was trying to be with me.I swallowed hard. My hand was still holding the armrest. I made myself speak calmly even though my stomach was twisting."I am not trying to disrespect you, " I said slowly. "I am not going to let you talk to me like I do not have a choice in my own life."Rita moved beside me. Her chair made a scraping sound on the floor as she sat up straight. It was as if she could feel the conversation getting sharper.Mrs Mayers breathed out slowly. I
ANNA POVShe told me I should come home. Her voice was gentle. It was also firm. It did not sound like she was asking me it sounded like she had already made up her mind. I felt something in my stomach twist away.I blinked, not because I did not hear her. Because I needed a moment to understand why she could say something like that so easily, it was as if my life was something that could just fit back into her family's life without any problem."I'm sorry?" I said, trying to keep my voice under control. It came out sharper than I meant it to. There was something about the way she talked about my life that made me feel like she thought it belonged to her family like Anna's life was theirs to control.She leaned forward a little her face calm. But it did not look like she really felt that way it looked like she was just trying to appear calm. I could tell she thought she was being reasonable which made it even worse for Anna.She said Anna needed to be taken care of properly. Anna's li
ANNA POVI whispered to Rita to hold on.She stopped walking one eyebrow going up like she knew I was going to say something she did not need to hear."What," she asked, not saying it out loud.I got closer to her my voice softer, as the walls might hear me."What if it's Jacob?" I said.Rita looked at me gave me that slow tired look she gives me when she thinks I am thinking too much."And how do we know," she whispered back getting closer to me "if you will not let me open the door?"Before I could say anything she smiled a little walked past me and went to the door like she had decided she was not afraid anymore.There was another knock, this time.Rita opened the door.Everything in me stopped.Mrs. Mayers was standing there.Jacob's mother.She was not loud or dramatic. She was not with guards or lawyers like I thought she would be.She was just standing there holding a bag and looking at me in a way I did not understand. My body reacted before my brain did. I sat up straight lik
JACOB POVThe room was quiet after the door closed. It was not quiet. It was a controlled quiet. I stood by the window for a time without moving. My reflection was layered over the city lights like two versions of me that could not align.One version of me still thought I was in control. The other
JACOB POVThe sound cracked through the room like something breaking, sharp and irreversible. Anna's head snapped to the side with the force of it. For one second neither of us moved.She stood there with her hand flying up to her cheek. Her eyes were wide and wet. Her breath came in desperate pull
JACOB POVFear moved across her face away before she could hide it. Seeing that reaction did something to my mood.Her phone almost slipped from her hand.“Jacob…”“What are you up to?" I asked calmly. The room changed the moment the words left my mouth. Anna noticed it too. I saw it in the way h
JACOB POVMy jaw tightened slowly although my expression never changed."I've been watching " I said calmly.My voice cut through the silence easily. She stiffened right away before turning toward me. I still caught the reaction. Kathryn had always been expressive with her eyes.Now was no differen







