Mel wasn't sure what she was expecting. To wake up with you beside her, perhaps. But instead, she opened her eyes to find darkness, and an empty bed. She'd told herself she didn't care. So why was there an ache in her chest?

She went on with the day as she usually would. Attending to her duties, discussing matters with Elora. Maintaining a complete mask of indifference. But in her mind, it was a different story. Where were you? She hadn't seen you since last night. Which was odd, because you'd been just about everywhere just recently.

Later into the afternoon, a knock at the door pulls Mel's attention from the painting she's working on. Elora opened the door, only for Mel to see you behind it. You looked tired - exhausted. And apologetic. Mel almost felt worried for you. But she pushed that feeling aside.

Giving Elora a look that communicated her desires for her, Mel waited until her assistant had left the room, before simply turning back to her painting. You attempted to fill the silence with an apology. For leaving her last night.

"Yes, well. Duty calls."

The response was sarcastic and bitter, even if subtly so. A snippet of the hurt inflicted upon Mel with the fact that you had left her. She wasn't sure why it leaked through her tone with you. But she didn't give herself chance to find out, falling silent again. An unspoken desire for an explanation hanging in the air.