Lonely

"Hope," she barely heard his voice through her exhaustion. But she turned to greet him just the same.

His tall figure stood before her, the parking lot empty and the sun setting in the sky. "Why are you here?" It puzzled her, through the daze she wondered how she looked in his eyes.

Did he see the bags under her eyes? The slump in her shoulders? Or did he see the facade that she so desperately tries to keep afloat with slight smiles and cheery eyes?

His lips spread into the crooked smile she once loved. "Is that really the first thing you say? I haven't seen you in so many years." Hope knew this, of course. It's been two years since she last saw him. And oh! How he has changed.

Her eyes wondered over his figure with broad shoulders and nimble fingers. His collarbone sticking out a bit too much for her liking, and as her eyes traveled to the bundle of hair tied behind his neck; her lips twitched, fighting off a frown. I can barely recognize you, Kyle.

"What else would I say?" She didn't mean her sharp tongue, her stomach twisting at the stunned look on his face. Yes, I did.

She smiled then, mustering up a cheerfulness she didn't feel. "I'm kidding, K. It's been a while."

Kyle watched her steadily, her discomfort showed as she shifted the balance of her body. "I'm just waiting for someone. I'm their ride home."

"I see," the silence that came between them was awkward. "I bett-"

The warmth that engulfed her surprised her into a gasp. Hope felt his arms wrap around her shoulders and tug her close into his chest. Her arms hesitantly touched his waist, confused at the sudden intimacy. "Kyle?" It's been a while, but the comfort of his hugs always made her lighter.

"Why do you look so lonely?"

Her eyes dropped and her limbs slacken. The words in her throat dried up and her fingers dug the inside of her palm. Because everyone comes and goes.

"It was nice seeing you," Hope backed away, clearing away the tightness in her throat.

And as she sat in her car, his words echoed in her mind. Why do you look so lonely?

There was no excuse that she could give for the tears that betrayed her as they ran amock down her cheeks, or the sobs that choked out of her throat, clenching her stomach and tightening her chest.

Her wounds were still fresh.