“Oh, I can walk home,” I said.
That startled him. “But if you aren’t feeling well…”
“The cool air will do me wonders,” I said, practically insisting.
He seemed conflicted. “I could escort you?”
“I’d only continue to be terrible company,” I said, standing. “Thank you, Ian. We will try again soon, I hope.”
“Of course, Annette…”
As I walked out of the restaurant, I felt his eyes on me the entire way.
I knew I was being insufferably rude, but I couldn’t help myself. I felt like I was suffocating in there. The minute I stepped outside, I suddenly felt free.
I didn’t want to return home too soon, or my family would have questions that I wasn’t ready to answer yet. So I decided to go the long way home, as I sometimes did, taking a walk through the forest.
I loved nature, and had energy t
