In less than an hour, Kiara walked back to Zique’s room, fully dressed. “I’m ready.”

Zique who sat with his head in his hands looked up at her, forcing a smile. “Alright, I’ll go take a shower and get ready too.”

He stood to his feet, kissing her forehead before walking out of the room. His actions were worrisome, she could see the quiver behind his smiles, the indecisiveness in his eyes and even though he was trying so hard to hide it, she could see the sadness that now resided across his face.

Was there something he wasn’t telling her?

He said it’d be okay, was he lying?

Kiara knew she should believe him, but she just couldn’t. His words were so different from his actions...to her, it didn’t seem like it was going to be okay, but...but what could she do about it?

She was so useless in everything she did...there was no way she could protect him, nothing she could do to save him. She felt so impotent...

Sitting down on the rumpled sheets, she fumbled her knee-length floral dress. She