Cane and Yvette walked side by side. The darkness illuminated by more festive lights surrounding the stores and buildings. Warm lighting began to hit her, almost causing a halo to form around her, her image enhanced by the tiniest things. Somehow, it was both fascinating and infuriating to see her interact with the world. 

     Cane stole glances as their hands were just inches away from touching. His finger twitched, getting closer and closer, but she sneezed, her hand swiftly covering her mouth, "Oh, excuse me". She quickly pulled a tissue and wiped her nose. She doused her hand in hand sanitizer and kept on walking.

      Cane wanted to break the silence. He was unable to form a proper sentence for her as he did for others. He tried to think of a coherent thought, but she spoke before he could gather his words. "Thank you, Cane. Even though this was meant for you, I feel I was the one who got a lot more today".

      He smiled, "No, thanks to you I was able to get out of my slump. I've been feeling down recently, and I've been trying to get out more. So, thank you". 

      "What seems to be bothering you?". Yvette asked without thinking, and she immediately retracted. "Oh, I didn't mean to pry, you don't have to tell me if you don't want to", she felt she overstepped and apologized.

      Cane's smile was still visible, but his eyes were somber as he spoke, " No, no, it's okay. Maybe, getting an outsider's opinion can settle something for me. Do you mind hearing me out?", his eyes were soft, almost pleading for more of her time. 

     She gave in to that polite smile, "Of course".

     They sat on a bench near the parking lot as he began, "I had a fiancée who passed away around a year ago. We had known each other since college, and I felt like my future with her was already set. We moved in together after we announced our engagement, and things seemed pretty normal at the start. However, during this time, she began to act strangely. Then one day I came home from work, and  I found her things gone and a note saying she had found someone else. She even left me letters saying how she wanted to travel and how she found someone to turn her dream into a reality. She said she didn't want to stay stagnant like she did with me. But, within the week, she came back. Turns out her other man didn't want to be with her and said he never planned to leave with her. This left her destitute due to uprooting her life and selling everything for worthless gear, non-refundable hotel rooms, and non-refundable flights. She asked me if she could come back, and I still held affection for her, so I said yes. But I don't think she was really over her dream man. She fell deeper and deeper into depression and took her own life." 

     Cane buried his face into his hands and sighed as if trying to collect himself. He continued. "Damien then found out about everything and told me to forget about her. He tried to get me out of the house and even tried to set me up with others. I told him a while back that it didn't feel right to move on. It was difficult to leave it all behind without looking at all the good times that we shared, too. She did hurt me, but in the end, I still cared for her. Is that so bad?". 

     They sat in silence for what felt like an eternity. Cane then began to panic as Yvette looked away. His thoughts spiraling, "Shit, maybe I shouldn't have said all that at once. Come on, think of something", he thought as he regretted his little game. But, amid that awkwardness, he felt a warm sensation on his arm. He looked at her, and without judgment, she spoke, "Well, I guess everything can become quite complex. Of course, Damien would feel a certain way after his friend was betrayed. But it's difficult to forget someone you were with for so long. Everyone moves at a different pace. Damien wants you to move on, maybe because he doesn't want to see his friend in pain. He can only see all the bad things, and that may be the only perspective he has. But, I guess he never saw how happy she made you, too. It's not bad to miss someone you shared a life with."

      She saw as Cane's eyes widened and he quickly looked away. He was shaking and hiding his face like he was crying. Yvette panicked but was quickly comforted by his words, "Thank you". She pulled another tissue from her bag and handed it to him. He took it and gently wiped his eye, his tears still visible. She stayed next to him until he calmed down.

     He walked her to her car and waved goodbye as she drove off.

      As her car was no longer in sight, he pulled out his phone and typed down her license plate so he wouldn't forget. Can smirked as he thought about how adorable she was. It's like she came out of a book where nothing bad happens. He still couldn't believe she would act that way after getting beaten down by her boyfriend and his mistress. But he didn't fully dislike it. Still, he wanted to see how she would act when completely broken down. What would she look like, engulfed in anger?

      As he thought about it, he placed his hand where she had touched him. Somehow, he could still feel the warmth. The weight of her hand and the shape of her fingers still lingered. His mind raced, and he began to laugh again. He couldn't believe it. Did she believe he was crying? He just couldn't suppress his laughter anymore. What would she think if he told her that the reason he never moved on was due to trying to find her? It was a ridiculous thought that could never be said out loud.

  

     Cane arrived home and collapsed on his bed. He looked at his bedside, and on the table he saw the ring he had given to his dearly departed fiancée. He remembered his first thought when he saw her: she was a beautiful woman, unpredictable and free, and he wanted to clip those wings as soon as he could. 

     Cane believed she would let him, she gave him promises full of love and said she would do anything for him, but in the end, that was a lie. She kept fighting back, trying to get away, making him feel like he was in the wrong. He still couldn't understand why she acted the way she did. He was honest and upfront about what he wanted. Was that not enough? He then remembered the day she left and the hole that began to form in his chest. 

     For that week, he continued his routine, but his confusion grew concerning his feelings. Then, she came back. But...he felt the same as before. However, as her expression grew more desperate, something inside him sprouted. 

     That hollow expression was almost beautiful, but there was still hope behind those eyes. She tried reaching out to family, but many had already cut her off.  Cane knew he could do something, but he couldn't see the fun in that. 

      So, he made himself the center of her entire world and filled her head with thoughts she thought were her own. " Everyone knows you cheated, your family wanted to see you married to a nice, stable man, and they think you blew it. But I'm still here with you". "Your friends began to talk behind your back, saying you threw away your possessions and our job for a man who never wanted you. But that's okay, I don't think that".  "Everyone keeps looking at you and judging you, but I won't look at you that way". "Everyone keeps saying, ' Who could ever want you, but you know I always will. 

      Self-doubt and paranoia crept in and filled her head with insecurities. Everyone seemed to have turned on her; she could feel the stares, eyes judging her at every corner. She no longer had anywhere to go, and Cane was all she had. But, he then pulled back on his affectionate words and gestures. He left her alone for hours to days on end. His expressions became colder, his gestures dismissive.  

      He saw as she began to waste away, and at that moment, he felt the hole in his body was closing. He felt what he assumed was happiness as she fell deeper into an inescapable depression.  

     Then, as he left for work, he looked at her, set a bottle in her sight, and left. When he came home, he felt as if his wound would never reopen as he saw her there. Her eyes were finally empty as she stared at him. Tears still fresh, falling down her cheeks. Her expression was so hopeless, he almost wanted to take a picture. Thus, as she was now, she would never leave him again.

      Cane came back to the present, and as he replayed those memories, he felt bored. He felt like her face was slowly slipping away, and the impression she made was at the very least mediocre now. He wanted to move on and felt it was way past the time to do it. For some reason, he felt eager to see what the day brought him.