Page 144 of Glass Jawed
And into the silence.
Where I can finally fall apart in peace.
THIRTY-SIX
Aarohi
“What’s in it?”
Advik is asking about the paper bag Lucian handed me, but I can’t fuckingmove. I don’t know what’s wrong with me.
A few minutes ago, I had the strongest urge to say,“Looks like Advik has a thing for women who don’t look like one.”But the urge died a quick death when Lucian wouldn’t even meet my eyes.
And earlier, when he did—
All I saw was that blankness that comes with loss. With giving up. Withsurrender.
And it scared the shit out of me.
He’s gone now. Walked away quietly. Defeated.
“Rohi?” Advik says again, jolting me back.
“I... I don’t know,” I frown, staring at the bag like it might explode.
I haven’t looked inside yet. I’m scared to. Scared of what he might’ve left me with.
I limp toward the wall and lean against it, carefully peeling the paper open.
And Iloseit.
Because I can’t fucking believe what I’m looking at.
Myplushy slippers.
White. Star-embedded. Slightly worn at the heels. Soft and stupid andmine.
What the hell are they doing here—all the way from his apartment? Why would he bring themhere? Why now?
Why just... hand them to me and walk away?
The first sob rips out of me. Then the second.
In flat three seconds, I’m on the ground—sliding down the wall—and Advik is quick to catch me, softening the fall.
“Shit,” he mutters. “Are you okay? What the fuck is even inside this?”
I’m not listening anymore. I can barely breathe.
Through the blur, I see him pull the slippers out of the bag, holding them up with this sad, almost sympathetic smile.
When I calm down a bit, I gingerly slide my heels off with shaking fingers and tuck my feet into the soft clouds of fabric.
My slippers.
The ones I thought I’d never see again. Neverwearagain.
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
