Ch. 18: The Longest Night

The city never really slept, and tonight neither did he.

"You shouldn't have come," she said, and the words landed softer than they were meant to. For a heartbeat the careful distance between them thinned to nothing at all.

There was a history between them that neither would name, written in the things they did not do. Sophia crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to. "I'm not asking you to forgive me," Sophia said. "I'm asking you to listen."

"I'm not asking you to forgive me," Sophia said. "I'm asking you to listen." Money could buy a great many things, she had learned, but never the one thing that was wanted most.

They did not speak for a long moment. Some silences carry more than words ever could, and this was one of them.

Sophia crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to. "I'm not asking you to forgive me," Sophia said. "I'm asking you to listen." Sophia crossed the room slowly, aware of every step, of the way she was watching without seeming to.

She did not sleep that night. There was too much to lose, and far too much to want.