Abby

Five minutes feels like an eternity. I pace Karl’s kitchen as he quickly gets ready

in the other room, not even taking a moment to take in the fact that this is Karl’s

apartment, and I’m here for the first time ever. The whole place is awash with

his scent in an almost intoxicating way, the leather chairs and brick walls a

perfect representation of his taste: dark, understated, and professional.

Finally, after what feels like hours, Karl finally steps out of his room. Surprisingly,

despite the time crunch, he looks… good.

His hair is combed neatly, and he’s wearing a professional button-down shirt

with black slacks and a pair of loafers. Somehow, even in his haste, he always

Enter title…

manages to look put-together. I wish I could say the same; I feel like a

trainwreck right now.

However, as he puts on his blue surgical mask, I glance at the clock. My eyes

widen in horror.

“Oh my god, we have only fifteen minutes to make it!” I exclaim, my throat

feeling dry from the hectic morning.

“We’ll make it, Abby. Trust me,” he says, his words muffled behind the mask.

I swallow. “We have to run to the subway. Maybe we can still—”

Karl holds up his car keys with a chuckle that says he has everything under

control. The keys jingle against each other as he wiggles them back and forth.

subway when you have four

Through morning city traffic?” My voice

making it if

me a look that I’ve seen so many

“Just

say with

rush downstairs and jump

out of the

man on a mission.

“Seatbelt,” he barks.

just in time as he swings into traffic,

spare. I grip the edges of the seat, whiteknuckled, my other hand clutching the

are you trying

time,” he says, his eyes never leaving the

glance at the clock on the dashboard, my stomach lurching. Thirteen

really

a surge of invigorating adrenaline that I

Karl and I ran

the light teetering dangerously

pushes the pedal to the

another car enters the

straight at us.

“KARL!”

screeching, missing the other car by a hair’s

other

obscenities from his window.

Karl, just go!” I urge, my eyes widening even further as

laying on their horns.

we’re out of the intersection, I punch his arm with

that surprises even me. “Are you insane? Be

our lives

eyes meeting mine through the rearview

I

is a

we didn’t,” he says.

we turn a corner, and suddenly, there it is—the TV

the clock again. Five minutes

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