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Emotionally Drained

Author: Pen Seal
last update publish date: 2026-03-26 19:39:40

Melody woke up feeling worse than she did before she slept last night, like her body didn’t want to return to consciousness. Her eyes fluttered open, heavy and reluctant, her head sinking deeper into the pillow for a second before reality started creeping back in. The faint light filtering through the curtains told her it was already morning.

She blinked, then turned her head slightly toward the bedside table. It was 9:17 a.m.

Her brows furrowed immediately.

“What…?” she muttered under her brea
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  • The Christmas Contract    Generosity At The Farmer's Market

    Melody adjusted the woven basket on her arm as she walked through the farmers’ market, her boots crunching lightly against the gravel path. The sun was coming up but the breeze that was blowing helped to reduce its impact. She had come out for fresh berries.Strawberries, blueberries… maybe raspberries if she found good ones. She wanted to make jam for her doughnut fillings. Her fingers brushed over a tray of strawberries at one stall before she moved on. She kept walking, the familiar wooden stalls, the scent of fresh bread, herbs, and fruits it all wrapped around her. They had malls in SnowBrook but she would rather get her fruits, spices and herbs from the farmers market.She got everything she needed and headed for Mrs. Donnelly's store to get the berries. As she got there she noticed Mrs. Donnelly wasn't there, it was her husband.“Mr. Donnelly?”The older man looked up immediately, his face lighting up like someone had just handed him a gift. “My dearest girl!” he exclaimed, s

  • The Christmas Contract    Why Is He Here?

    The moment Melody saw Brandon standing there, leaning casually against the wall just outside the restroom, her steps faltered for half a second.Of course it was him.A flicker of irritation crossed her face before she could stop it. Her brows pulled together slightly, her lips pressing into a thin line as one question echoed in her head. Why is he here?“Hey,” Brandon said, straightening up immediately when he saw her turn.Melody blinked once, forcing her expression into something neutral. “Hey.”“I didn’t mean to scare you,” he added quickly, rubbing the back of his neck like he suddenly felt awkward standing there. “I just… I needed to use the restroom too, but I’ll wait.”She stared at him for a second, not entirely convinced, not entirely interested either. “It’s fine.” Without waiting for anything else, she pushed the door open and stepped into the female restroom, letting it close behind her with a soft click.The silence inside was a relief. For a moment, she just stood there

  • The Christmas Contract    Bringing A Plus One

    SnowBrook Valley The smell of cinnamon and sugar filled the kitchen, warm and comforting, wrapping around Melody. She stood by the counter, carefully sliding the last batch of cinnamon rolls onto a cooling rack, her fingers moving with quiet precision.For a moment, she just stood there, staring at them. Golden brown and perfectly glazed, she loved it here in the kitchen. A small smile tugged at her lips, but it didn’t last long. Her chest felt heavy again.It had been a week since the death of her father and three days since he was laid to rest. The thought alone made something twist painfully inside her. She would never get to see him, hug him and kiss me ever again. He'll never get the chance to walk her down the aisle on her big day or even see his grandchild.The thought broke her, and she cries everyday and some nights when she can't sleep, she can hear her mum cry herself to sleep. It was a really hard time for her family and her one escape was baking.She inhaled slowly, pre

  • The Christmas Contract    Yes To Forever

    The room was a mess of dresses, heels, makeup brushes, and half-open boxes, but neither of them cared. Tara stood in front of the mirror, adjusting the strap of her dress while Melody sat on the bed, staring down at the two options in her hands like her life depended on it.“I don’t know,” Melody muttered, lifting one up. “This one feels like I’m going to church.” Tara laughed but didn’t even turn. “Girl the blue one is better, why are you even holding that big ass dress in the first place?”“Because I think it's pretty, and it's giving the boss chick vibe.”“No,” Tara said, finally glancing at her through the mirror. “It’s not giving a boss chick, it's giving, I just married the pastor.”Melody rolled her eyes. “I don't think you have any idea of what a pastor's wife looks like.”“You bet I do and I don't want you walking into a restaurant looking like you just got back from church.” Tara shot back.That pulled a laugh out of Melody. “Okay, that’s rude,” she said, tossing one dress

  • The Christmas Contract    Take Your Lying Ass Away

    Logan woke up to the instant feeling of regret. For a few seconds, he didn’t move. His eyes stayed closed, his body still, as fragments of the night before flickered through his mind. Last night he got carried away and Hanni, who knew he couldn't resist her, took advantage of him. He hated himself for being so weak and gullible.Then he turned slightly, the other side of the bed was empty as he opened his eyes.He stared at the space for a moment, he remembered she said she had a shot early this morning, his best guess was that she left early, not wanting to wake him up. He almost did the happy dance because he just couldn't face her, not after all the dirty things they did together last night.He exhaled sharply and sat up, running a hand through his hair. “Damn,” he muttered under his breath. He needed to get ready for work because he'll be meeting with the members of the board today. They haven't really sat down to have a meeting since his father's death.He got out of bed and head

  • The Christmas Contract    Sex Starved, And Getting Fed

    Logan didn’t realize how fast he was driving until the city lights started blurring past him. His hands were steady on the wheel, but his mind wasn’t.Not even close.Every few seconds, it drifted back to her, he left Melody's house with a boner. The way her voice softened as he massaged her feet. He wanted nothing more than to kiss her, bend her over on the sofa and fuck her so hard she'll beg him not to stop.The way the tension between them had built until it was almost unbearable was sickening. He wanted her so badly but he didn't want to cross the line. She's already made it very clear that she wasn't interested in any form of romance with anyone, especially with him.He exhaled sharply, tightening his grip on the steering wheel. “Damn it,” he muttered under his breath. He let out a quiet breath, shaking his head slightly as he slowed down, turning into his street.He just needed a hot shower and he'll be just fine. But as soon as his car approached the driveway, something felt o

  • The Christmas Contract    Thriller Dinner

    The weather outside was a bit cold, perfect for hot chocolate and marshmallows. Melody and Tara stood in front of the mirror, checking their outfits one last time. The room smelled faintly of Tara’s lavender lotion, mixed with the crisp scent of Melody’s perfume. Melody tilted her head, smiling at

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-24
  • The Christmas Contract    Latest Home Owner In Town

    Melody woke up earlier than usual. She lay there for a few seconds, staring at the ceiling, listening to the quiet of the apartment. It was one of those quiet mornings that felt heavy and light at the same time. Since she couldn't sleep, she decided to do a little cleaning. She arranged the boxes

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-24
  • The Christmas Contract    Dead Beat Patient

    Tara had been on her feet since six in the morning. By noon, her calves were already tight and sore. By one, her lower back had started that dull, persistent ache she knew too well, the kind you ignored because if you didn’t, you wouldn’t make it through the shift. She had stopped checking the time

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-24
  • The Christmas Contract    My Condolences

    “What the fuck is he doing here?” Tara muttered.Melody’s steps slowed. “Oh, you should know better.”As they moved closer they could see his face. The dark circles under his eyes, he looked smaller than the last time Tara saw him, with his shoulders slightly slumped. He didn't need to be here, bec

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-25
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