091: Sending Mixed Signals

{~Nathaniel Cross~}

I left Cherry’s room about an hour after I’d walked in. Longer than I should’ve stayed. Shorter than I wanted.

She’d been smiling when I left—actually smiling, not forcing it—and that should’ve been enough to settle whatever was twisting in my chest. Knowing she wasn’t upset anymore, knowing I’d fixed at least part of what I’d broken… that should’ve been enough.

But it wasn’t.

Because underneath that relief, something else lingered.

Guilt.

And something far less noble.

I exh