Chapter 35

The smile on Yesenia's face froze. It took her a moment to force it back. "I was just kidding! Why are you so serious?"

Clifford's lips curved into a slight smile. "So was I."

...

At the restaurant, people came and went.

Latisha sat quietly, waiting. An hour passed, then another. Clifford never came.

She rested her chin in her hand, watching as the city lights outside began to extinguish one by one, the bustling streets growing quiet.

The restaurant slowly emptied, like a receding tide, leaving her alone in a vast, silent space. The lights outside went dark, and soon, the lights inside the restaurant dimmed as well.