One deep breath. Two slow blinks. Three hollow beats.

I'm still here.

After three years, that reminder isn't as necessary. But everyone has their bad days. This is definitely one of them. Until an adorable little boy dashes into my store. His zest for life makes me smile in a way that's been long lost. Then I meet his father.

Well, confront is more like it.

Brance Stone is volatile.

Offensive.

Harsh.

And can't be bothered to care.

Not that I want him to. I get frostbite just looking into Brance's glacial stare. But there's something undeniable about him.

My misery suddenly craves company. The suffocating numbness lifts whenever Brance is near. That alone should have me running in the opposite direction. Try as I might, there's no avoiding him. If only I could understand why. As if he'd let me.

I don't ask. He doesn't tell. A silent, bitter truce settles between us.

That was our first mistake.

It's certainly not the last.