“You look beautiful tonight.” Simon says intertwining my fingers with his. The warmth of his hand seeps through my body a nice contrast to the cool night air. I breathe slowly, enjoying the atmosphere.  We walk up from the parking to a gate in the far distance. I breathe in the evening air, smiling at how happy I’ve been this whole weekend. We had so much fun at the beach, once I got over my awkwardness I started to enjoy Simon taking pictures of me. He made me feel so special. I’ve never gotten so much attention from one human being. It feels good to be catered to, adored and taken care of.   Thank you.” I say feeling my face get warm. I smile looking up at him, I feel like the most beautiful woman in the world next to him. “Thank you for bringing me here.” I say and he smiles at me like he won the lottery. Tonight we’re back in Simon’s world he’s taking me to the town’s art walk. The mayor hosts a street art exhibition once a month in the city cen

 “Thank you for meeting me.” I say smiling at my Adira. She nods but she doesn’t smile back. “I appreciate you giving me this opportunity to talk to you. I know I don’t deserve your consideration after what I did.” I say and she looks at me her face devoid of any reaction.“I didn’t want to show up but your mother made me do it so…” Adira says annoyed but she’s trying to mask it.  I nod looking at her apologetically but I don’t mean that shit. I’m just doing it because my mother said I have to do it. She is forcing me to beg Adira to take me back in. And I’m doing it because I hate living with Phil. If it wasn’t for that I would have told Adira to go and die.“Thank you for being so understanding.” I say and she nods. “I just want to start by saying I’m sorry for the way I‘ve been treating you. You opened yo

Adira  “Chloe? What’s wrong?” I say running up to my sister. She’s gripping the door handle to my building. Her body is hunched over like shes in pain. She starts crying as soon as I say her name. Her cries come in loud dry heaves. I look at her face and realize she’s been crying for a while. Her face is red and swollen; the tea stains on her face are dry. Tonight was supposed to be a relaxing and forgetting all my troubles. Simon and I had a great day and we were planning to end it with one of his amazing dinners. This is not what I imagined I’d come home to.  I just stepped out to go get ice cream and I come home to this?What happened between the time sne ans I met to now? Where the hell is that stupid boyfriend of hers? Why does she look like she’s dying? Why is she out her in the dark alone? I want to shake her hard for putting herself in this p

Adira  “What’s wrong?” Chloe asks getting into the car. She closes the door looking at me with so much concern on her face. I smile to make her calm down; I don’t know why she’s looking at me like the world is five to ending.“Nothing is wrong.” I say and she looks at me unconvinced. Where is this sudden concern and worry coming from?“Then why are you here?” She asks looking at me like I’m lying. “You never pick me up from work. Why are you picking me up today?” She asks staring at me. I start the car and we leave.“I want us to go talk to dad.” I say and she looks at me shocked. She quickly looks out the window hiding her face. I don’t have to see her face to know she’s annoyed with me.“I didn’t think you meant to go talk to him today. You didn’t sound like you were going to do it today

I open the door to my bedroom for Adira, letting her walk in first. She gets on the bed and sits up on the bed. I get on the bed and lie on my tummy. I look up at her smiling; she’s staring in the direction of the painting.I can’t believe how beautiful this woman is. She’s effortlessly beautiful, she takes my breath away every time I look at her.“How long is the painting going to take to finish?” Adira asks looking at the canvas. I turn onto my back and look up at her. She’s sitting up her body slightly swallowed by the pillows.“A while.” I say and she smiles“Is it weird that I was hoping it would be done tonight?” She says making me smile.“No, that makes sense. You’re anxious t see the finished piece.” I say and she looks at me smiling sweetly.“Do you want to go back?” she asks pointing the chair I was sitting in when I was painting her.&