Page 37 of The Heart You Kept

Alora.

Her name is Alora.

She walks back into the room and I quickly stuff my phone into my pocket before she sees.

She comes back to stand in front of me. “Are you sure we can’t do what we came here to do?”

“My apologies….I just….” I exhale heavily, disappointed that I can’t do this for her.

Why aren’t I better with words?

“I’ll make sure you receive a credit,” I tell her.

“I don’t want to do that with anyone else,” she whispers.

I stare at her as her words hang between us.

If I were a better person I would tell her to come here again with a new partner, fulfill the list and make her friend proud.

But I can’t.

The thought of her touching someone else is not something I can bear to think about.

“Will you remember me?” she asks.

“Yes. Will you remember me?”

“Probably not.”

I smile down at her and I press my lips to her forehead as I hold her close. She closes her eyes to my touch. “I love it when you kiss my forehead.” She smiles against me.

Enough.

This is getting fucking morbid; I need to cut it short.

“You should get going.” I step back from her.

“Okay,” she whispers, her nostrils flare as she holds in her tears.

Don’t….

Before she can say another word: “Goodbye, Miss Doe.” I nod, then I turn and walk out of the suite. The door clicks closed behind me and I hesitate for a moment as I hold the door handle in my hand. I imagine her on the other side of the door.

I can feel her on the other side of the door…waiting for me to come back through it.

I close my eyes in regret.

Leaving her was harder than it should have been.

I straighten my tie and calmly walk back to my room.

It’s time to go home.

ALORA

The cab ride to the airport is long, it’s snowing now.

And unlike the magical snow of last night in his arms, today it’s cold and depressing.