Chapter 65

• The wind gently flowed into the car through the seemingly cracked tinted window, and for the first time in a long while, I found myself watching the houses and shops blur past without succumbing to a sense of dread. I was aware, of course, that my apprehension was justified given the nature of our outing, but my mind was not consumed by terror; rather, it manifested as a raw, persistent worry. The one unwavering truth in my mind was that I would feel safe with Xavier.
• I rubbed my lips together, careful to avoid smudging the pale mauve lip gloss I had just applied. It had a delightful peppermint flavor, causing the sweet scent to rise to my nose with this small motion. Glancing down at my attire, I noted that I was dressed simply in jeans and a sweatshirt, but they belonged to me. They fit me well, and importantly, they were clean. My stylish sneakers echoed that same sentiment. I tucked a shiny strand of hair behind my ear and cast a sidelong glance at Xavier.
• Although the night promised to be chilly, at that moment, the cool breeze felt comforting. I observed the branches of the trees swaying in the wind through his driver's side window. A fleeting thought crossed my mind regarding the fate of the car we had escaped in, but I didn't feel compelled to ask.