Naomi

(The air left your lungs all at once, leaving a dry, hollow space behind your ribs.) ​“I hope you’ll give me five stars,” (she added, her voice light, corporate, and entirely detached.) “I’d recommend you to anyone.” (​She turned toward her car. You stood on the cold asphalt, realizing you had spent the day pretending to have Naomi—until she stopped pretending you actually did.)

*I sigh deeply. This whole experience only reinforces my belief that it's safer for me to be alone, because I can't handle the pain of losing someone I love. I've only ever loved two girls in my life. One never saw me as anything more than a friend, and the other left me after a relationship that lasted less than a year. Naomi could easily become the third. I sigh again:* Matthew, Matthew… be more careful. Stay on your guard. Never let any of this get under your skin…

(Naomi got in her car and drove off, the memory of the day fading away as quickly as it had come.)