Morgan’s helped me more in these past few months than years of counseling did. I never thought I was capable of giving part of me to another person, but he’s proof that I can.

“Jesus, Aspen. It’s like a museum in here.” Ellie walks down the hall, studying all the pieces I have hanging on the walls.

“Oh, I have a lot more. I just hung up my favorite ones.” I grab an extra blanket and pillow from my room and bring it out to the couch for her. “Sorry I don’t have an extra bed. The couch is pretty comfortable, though.”

“Oh, it’s fine,” she says spinning around and walking back toward the living room. “Thanks for letting me stay.”

“Anytime.” I smile internally at how easy that comes out. A few months ago, having someone stay here, in my personal space and surrounded by all my art pieces, would’ve given me an anxiety attack. However, the thought of people seeing and asking about them doesn’t freak me out as much anymore.

“Wanna stay up with me for a while?”

I can barely keep my eyes open, but I say yes anyway. I grab my comforter and pillow and sit on the chair across from her.

“Can I ask you something?” She looks at me.

“Sure.”

“Have you ever been in love?”

I swallow. I hadn’t expected that kind of question. “I’m not really sure. Sometimes when I think back, it feels like it was going in that direction. As quick as it happened was as quick as it was ripped away. I’m almost positive, had it worked out, I would easily have fallen in love with him.” The corner of her lip curls up in a genuine smile. “What about you?”

“Yeah, I was in that really, really deep can’t-stop-thinking-about-you kind of love. It was intense. My body lit up any time we were together and once it was over, I felt lost.”

“I know that feeling,” I say.

“It’s the absolute worst.” I nod. “But if I had to go through it all over again, I would just to feel that again.”

“Yeah, me too,” I agree. “I want to believe that everything happens for a reason, but some days are harder than others.”

“Destiny has an evil way of teaching us the life lessons we’re meant to experience.”

“So you want to tell me about him?” I prompt.

She smiles and lays her head against the pillow. “Maybe at breakfast.”

“Deal.” I smile in return, rest my head, and close my eyes until I’m drifting off to sleep. The memory of him and his touch is so fresh in my mind. Sometimes I dream about him and wake up feeling him next to me. Then I peel my eyes open and realize he isn’t.

Those are the worst kind of mornings.

I wake up Sunday morning feeling refreshed from having yesterday off. Finals ended Friday, but after drinking all night, I needed that extra day to recover.

However, this is the official first week of summer, and I’m going to slap a positive attitude on and smile happily.

After slipping in the shower, burning my breakfast and nearly my apartment down, and my car running out of gas on the way to work, I’m ready to crawl back into bed and scream.

Why can’t fresh starts ever just be on my damn side for once?

I finally make it to work, frustration and annoyance radiating off of me as I walk inside. I called to let Ms. Jones know that I was running late. She surprisingly understood and even complimented me on how nice I looked when I finally arrived.

After assuring her I was fine to come in, she told me I was needed in the back filing paperwork.

Every possible thing that could go wrong today has gone wrong and it’s only ten a.m., and now I’m being sent to the back?

Someone up above is getting a real kick out of torturing me today.

After four hours, I feel like my body is slowly dying from boredom. I decide to take a break and head to the employee lounge to grab a snack.

Ms. Jones paces around the hallway three times before I finally get suspicious enough to stand up and find out what’s wrong with her.

“All right, spill it.”

“Huh, what?” She spins around, biting her nails. “Oh, nothing dear. Just a lot on my mind. I’m supposed to do inventory tonight, but I promised Natalia I’d go to her play.”

“Oh.” My face softens.

“But maybe I can come in late and do them after…” she starts thinking aloud to herself. “No, then security will be gone by then. Shit.”

I see the stress wrinkles around her eyes as she tries to think of a plan. I feel bad knowing how busy and stressed she can get, so I offer to help.

“I’d be happy to do it for you. I mean, I have nothing planned anyway.”

“Really? Are you sure?”

“Yeah, I mean, I’d hate for you to miss her play.” Morgan has mentioned how close Natalia and her have gotten since she moved in with him.

“Darling, you’re a gem! Thank you!” She wraps me in a tight hug, and I’m taken back by how grateful she’s being. “Shane will still be here, so you don’t have to worry about being alone.

“All right.”

“Just come after the gallery closes. Everything’s in the office, and help yourself to any snacks you may find in there.”

A nervous laugh passes her lips.

“Well, okay then. Guess I’ll be back tonight then.”

“Sounds good.”

She starts walking down the hallway before she stops and turns back around. “Oh and wear something nice. Kay, bye.” She sprints off before I can ask what she means.

I’ve never been to the gallery after hours before, but I rejoice in the fact that I’ll be alone for a while. I might even walk around and blast some music. Hell, I might even dance around in my underwear.

I use the key Ms. Jones gave me and enter in through the back. All the major lights are off except a few security lights that stay on all night long. It’s eerily silent, but it feels safe. Being here instantly brightens my mood.

I have to walk through a few of the exhibits to get to the staircase and up to Ms. Jones’ office. The closer I get to it, the more I hear faint music playing from somewhere. I stop and strain to hear where it’s coming from.

Perhaps someone left it on in their office?

I walk forward and notice from a distance that the spotlights are still on. I know we turn them off at night, so I round the corner to go turn them off. The music gets louder and soon I figure out where it’s all coming from.

“Oh my God!” I shriek, nearly jumping out of my own skin. “You scared the hell out of me. What are you doing here?”

“I’m here for you.” His warm smile and bright eyes captivate me. I can’t believe he’s here.

“Morgan…” I whisper, unable to believe it for myself although he’s standing right in front of me. Taking a step toward him, I see what the lights are shining on. “Holy…” It’s a large abstract painting behind him. He steps to the side so I can see it fully. It’s stunning, unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

Underneath the painting is a plaque with the words A Thousand Years written on it.

I blink. “Is that me?”

My feet are frozen to the floor, but he walks toward me until we’re face to face. “Yes.” I feel his hot breath against the flush of my skin.

“Why? Why are you here?” I’m too stunned to ask him anything else.

“I told you. I’m here for you.”

“You painted that?”

“Yes.”

I blink, looking into his eyes. “But you haven’t painted in almost a year.”

He grabs my hand and rests it on his chest. “I was finally inspired.”

Tears start blurring my vision, and I resist the urge to wipe them away. “I don’t understand.”

“You’re the teals and yellows of my life, Aspen. Happiness and laughter. I’ve had a lot of tough lessons in my life, but one thing for sure. I’m not letting that go.”

“But I broke your heart…” I begin to say, hot tears falling down my cheeks. “I lied to you.”

His jaw tenses as he wraps his other hand around my hip and pushes us closer together. “I know about Claire. I know she blackmailed you and that you had no choice. I know that you only said those things because she made you.”