Tempted Trapped and Too Late to Run

Clara pushed herself to her feet, swallowing nervously. "Someone gave it to me," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

Dylan stared at the photo for a long moment. Without a word, he pulled out his lighter and flicked it on.

As the flame flared, Clara reached out, trying to stop him, but he just looked at her and asked, "Who gave it to you? When did this happen?"

Something about him tonight sent a chill through her. She took a step back, heart pounding.

The fire crept higher, almost burning his fingers, but he didn't even flinch. He just watched her. "Answer me."

Clara pressed her lips together and looked down. "I don't know who. A few days ago."

He let out a dry, humorless laugh and flicked the smoldering remains away. "A few days ago?"

So she'd been hiding it all this time. No wonder she'd seemed distracted lately, like something was weighing on her. It was because of this.

Even in her sleep, she called out someone else's name.

So that's what it was.

Losing her memory couldn't erase it.

Growing up didn't help either.

It was like that person was carved into her bones, and Dylan realized, no matter what he did, he could never cut him out.

Seeing how much this hurt him made Clara's chest ache. She didn't even really know why she'd hidden the photo in the first place.

be mad." She tried to comfort him, but he just stared

sky, bright enough

sarcasm, the bitterness, the way she

most: "Why couldn't it have

try to hide things, but in the end,

stepped closer, cupping his face in her hands. "I didn't mean to hide it.

lips. They were

shudder, and she pulled her

if you gave me another

Inen

her mind spinning. Dylan turned away from her, standing ramrod straight. "You're not the

forehead, then hurried after him as

disappeared into

the bed, only raising her head when the sound of running water finally

out in his pajamas, hair wet, droplets running

his face

reached up to dry his hair. He slapped her hand

"Dylan―"

Bang!

His fist

ammed into the picture

on the wall. His hair

water pooling

don't love me. You never loved