Valorie rested her arms on the porch railing as she admired the sunrise. It'd been about a week since she sent Jade with the note, but there had been no reply. It was a bit sad really, she’d been really looking forward to the prospect. She sipped her coffee quietly, the woods were still aside from the occasional chirping of waking birds.

Val sighed slowly, it had been a little over two months since Ross’s death, the time without him had inched by, but suddenly it felt as if it was only a moment. Her time with him felt the same, she had known him for four years and dated him for three and a half of those. Valorie had been the happiest she’d ever been within those years, and now that he was gone it felt impossible to be joyful again.

As Val began to walk inside, her eyes trained on the ground as sunrise slowly faded into a soft blue. Once she was within a couple of feet of the door, it suddenly swung open. It revealed Ross on the other side, his dusty blonde hair down, his gray eyes cloudy, and his expression shocked. 

“Not again..” Valorie groaned, staring at the man in the doorframe, he hadn’t yet moved, but he seemed confused.

“Again?” Ross asked, he looked hurt at her statement.

“Can we just not do this today? It was so nice to just watch the sunrise in peace.” Valorie sighed, stepping towards the door. Ross stepped further in front of the doorway instead.

“You hate the sunrise though. You always complain when I get you up this early.”

“Oh please, I haven’t even slept yet, I almost never do, you know this.” Valorie said, exasperated and tired as she started to walk closer.

“You hate being up late or getting up early.” Ross frowned and Valorie paused, her brain was clearly too tired to hallucinate Ross properly.

“Ross, get out of my way.” Val said firmly as she crossed her arms.

“Ross?” He asked, he seemed to be deeply confused, something that hardly ever happened to Ross. The door suddenly slammed in her face.