9

By the time five thirty rolled around the café was empty, the last patron had left ten minutes ago. Ashlyn stood balancing the till for the fourth time that hour when Kass closed the drawer.

"You need to sit down," Kass commanded, steering Ashlyn by her shoulders over to one of the tables in the front window. Sitting opposite her, Kass sighed. Ashlyn watched her hands on the table before her, her fingers knotted together.

"I know somethings bothering you Ash. You've been distracted all day, and I haven't seen you smile once—"

I've smiled plenty, Ashlyn interrupted, her movements half-hearted.

"—and mean it," Kass finished, her tone gentle. "I'm worried about you."

Ashlyn bit her lip, glancing away before Kass could notice the tear that caressed her cheek. It was true. Her mind had been elsewhere today, somewhere dark and lonely. But still, she'd thought she maintained a composed front.

Guilt at that moment sat not on her chest, but inside her mind, and its power grew stronger w