Until I Wrote Him
We walk past tables lined with cards and dice, velvet cloths, and servers in crisp white shirts carrying trays of champagne.
The place smells expensive, that mix of perfume, cash, and something darker beneath.
A man with slicked hair and too many rings nods at us, his gaze lingering on me a moment too long.
I force a smile that feels like paper.
Rosie leans close and whispers, “You’re fine. Just breathe.”
I reach for a glass of champagne from a passing tray, my fingers trembling slightly.
The bubbles rise in the golden light like tiny lies, elegant and empty.
I pretend to sip, even though my stomach is already twisting.