I wake up with swollen eyes from all the crying from yesterday. I contemplate my reflection in the mirror, this isn’t a cute look. I splash some cold water in my face and go back to bed, I have no desire to see anyone right now. I watch movies on my laptop, but I don’t really pay attention to them. I can’t erase the image of Sam on the ground with the gun inside his mouth. 

The morning comes, but my mood hasn’t improve one bit, I still feel utterly humiliated. I can’t believe I was kicked out of the party. I can just imagine what people said after I left. My stomach feels queasy just thinking about all the gossip there will be about me. I grab my phone to distract myself from what happened at the party and I’m surprised by the number of notifications I have. There’s a text from Miranda asking me if I’m ok, there’s another from Laura asking me if what Erick told her is true and then there’s a bunch of messages from unknown numbers saying the most hateful things. My jaw drops as I read the messages. 

This Sunday morning has a different feeling, it’s the previous day before I start my new job. I feel really excited! I wake up early to go ride my bike in the park. It’s one of the few small freedoms I have. My parents used to oppose me riding my bike, but after months of arguments I convinced them it was safe. It’s not as if I ride at night and, also, the park is right in front of our house, so it’s not like I’m going far. Riding my yellow and pink bike is my favorite part of Sundays, it’s the perfect time to burn calories and be with myself without any interrupti

I wake up the next day and realize I slept with Stefan’s jacket on. It’s all wrinkled now, but I don’t care, it’s smells like him and it’s comforting. I lay in bed for a while thinking about him, about how he saved me from the drunken jerk and how I felt with his hand over my thigh. A sudden knock on my door takes me out of my thoughts. 

I hear someone quickly typing, the sound reminds me of the office, people working on their computers, eyes focused on the screens, taking a sip of coffee every now and then, exchanging witty remarks with the person next to them. But I’m not in the office, I’m lying in bed... but not my bed! I suddenly open my eyes, realizing where I am. I sit up abruptly and turn to my side. Stefan is sitting beside me with his laptop on his lap, he’s the one making the typing noise. My sudden move brakes his concentration, he turns his face to look at me and gives me a warm smile. He mutters a &ldq