DAISY

The hot morning sun felt completely different today.

When I opened my eyes, the heavy, suffocating weight that usually rested on my chest was completely gone. I didn't care about the silent phone on my nightstand, and I didn't care about Brian sitting in his dark penthouse thousands of miles away. I felt light. I felt alive.

By the afternoon, I was back down by the edge of the glittering swimming pool, wearing a simple yellow sundress. I didn't even try to read my book today. My eyes kept darting toward the edge of the patio, waiting.

Right on cue, a loud, cheerful whistle echoed through the palm trees....