Emily walked back and forth in the shockingly silent cottage, her heart pounding. Daniel had been far all morning, vanished into his office corner, pounding away at his laptop, providing her with only brief responses when she sought to talk to him. He was like this; his defences were almost impervious, but now more than ever it irritated her. The truth lingered in the air between them, unsaid but unquestionable, after everything they had gone through and after all the lies and secrets.
She could no longer bear it. Not the quiet or the avoidance. Not following the
bombs. Not following all of it.
Emily stopped pacing and turned towards Daniel, who still hadn't glanced up from his
computer, her fists closed at her sides. His face was lit by the laptop, his
demeanour cool and deliberate
