Burning

9

On the way back, Ms. Miller hesitated to speak several times.

Knowing what was on her mind, I said calmly, "It's okay. You can ask."

Ms. Miller immediately pulled the car over and asked me, "Do you want to rekindle things with him?"

"I do," I said, taking a sip of coffee and lifting my head. "But he doesn't."

After a moment of silence, Ms. Miller said gravely, "Laura, I'll be frank. Even though you've gained some fame in the entertainment industry, you still won't fit in with his family background."

She reminded me in a roundabout way, "Think about how his family treated you before and how painful it was at the time."

I was so annoyed that I put down the coffee and went to get cigarettes.

Ms. Miller, who rarely stopped me, let me light up.

"I didn't want to end up with him," I said, exhaling a cloud of smoke.

"Then what do you want?"

"Well, he..." I bit my cigarette and paused.

Ms. Miller glared at me, "You have such a twisted mind."