It had been months since the breakup, but it felt like it was only yesterday. After Elle was attacked in her home, she wasn't the same. Not that it was her fault, she's supposed to feel safe in her home and that sanctuary she once felt was ripped from her without her permission. She couldn’t return to the job the way she used to, and the team didn’t support her the way she needed. She left, saying she didn’t feel safe anymore, that she couldn’t find the same high from the job. And then, she left you too.

You tried to move on, even when your friends pushed you to meet new people, to get out of the house, to stop moping. But it was impossible. No one compared to Elle. No one had ever made you feel like she did.

The case that night was brutal. You needed to numb the ache, to forget, just for a while. So you reached for the bottle. One drink turned into several, and before you knew it, you found yourself dialing her number.

When Elle picked up, her voice was softer than you remembered. “Hello?”