LXXXIV | Ugly

❦

'Sorry,' I say.

Rowan's expressionless expression
returns to her face.

'For what?'

Her voice is a whisper.
She looks away,
at the stars in the sky.

'I let Shuhui sleep at my house.'

She doesn't respond.

I don't dare
to look at her.

I keep going.

'She got kicked out of her house,
'so I let her stay over.
'But there's nowhere else for her to sleep
'except in my bed.'

The crickets stop singing.

'I'm sorry, Rowan.
'I'll tell her to leave tomorrow.'

I look down at her,
serious.

'I tried to justify it
'with good intentions.

'But you deserve better.
'I'm going to put in more effort.

'I'm serious about you,
'Rowan.'

She sighs,
stands up,

brushing leaves from her skirt.

'Let's break up,' she says.

❦

I must have stopped breathing

from the shock
of her words

My chest is
hurting

so much.

'What?' I ask dumbly.

She picks up the trash
and stuffs it into a nearby bin.

'Did you sleep with her?'

By sleep do you mean sex?

[Read the full story at novelconbini.com!]