Chapter 68: A Change of Plan

*Theo*

The window in my office overlooked the garden. Most of the time, I didn’t pay any attention to it at all, but today, it seemed like I couldn’t stop staring outside.

She was gone. Really gone this time. And I couldn’t follow her as I had the last time she had run away. No, it was better this way. And even though it hurt right now, I knew I would get over it eventually.

With as much experience as I had at being all alone, I knew from the past that I would eventually forget all about her.

I’d forget the shape of her face, how her mouth curled up at the corners when she smiled, the way her eyes twinkled when she was happy.

I’d forget her scent—that fresh, warm smell of all things lovely and inviting.

I’d forget the softness of her skin and how her lips felt so perfect pressing against mine.

Before too much longer, all of that would fade into the background, and someday, when someone said the name Ciana Black, I’d be able to not feel part of me was missing….