Briony squeezed her hand, shaking her head at her like she was a silly girl.

Carey broke down, sobbing uncontrollably.

When they left Starlight Entertainment, Stewart was the one driving.

Briony sat in the back, her body weak, leaning into the seat.

Stewart glanced at her in the rearview mirror. "Are you feeling sick?"

Briony shook her head, gazing out the window at the passing city. Her voice was barely above a whisper. "Stewart, I feel like I haven't really looked at this city in so long. Could you drive me around for a bit?"

Stewart's hands tightened almost imperceptibly on the steering wheel.

He lowered his lashes and answered softly, "Of course."

The black Bentley wound its way down the city boulevard.

They drove past the bustling heart of downtown, the streets painted in neon and laughter.

Then they slipped into the university district, lined with rows of golden-leaved trees.

The tires crunched over a carpet of fallen leaves, sending them swirling into the air-little sprites in golden cloaks, dancing on the autumn wind. The car's shadow stretched behind them, drifting farther and farther away, until those golden leaves fluttered back to earth.

A sparrow swooped down from a nearby branch, snatching up a leaf before taking off again.

Autumn had arrived. And with it, winter couldn't be far behind.

...

Pearbrook, the black Bentley came to

setting sun had painted the sky in brilliant

the car, Briony sat with her

his voice gentle as he called,

slowly opened her

Pearbrook," Stewart

down

faint scent

sky, where the last rays of red lingered on the

painted a flush of color across her pale, fragile face,

back door opened and Briony stepped

and followed

row of flowering

drifting down in

walked ahead, Stewart quietly

a short distance, Briony's breath grew heavier, her steps faltering under the weight of

herself onto an

her, unscrewed the top from a thermos, and handed it

warm

the thermos back to Stewart,

about wanting your ashes

Stewart froze.

turned to look at her,

faint smile. "If don't make it through this, please find a peaceful place for me somewhere with good energy. Somewhere

was strained, his

always feel like I let our children down. I want to do what I can to make it

off, taking a deeper breath, her

blink of an eye, the twins are

far away. "I remember, years ago, I stood right there and watched a woman playing with her little child-maybe two, three years old. That

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