The next morning arrived gray and overcast, with the kind of December weather that made everything feel muted and subdued.
Hailey had slept poorly, her mind too active with worries and speculation to allow for proper rest.
She had been lying awake when she heard Eric moving around in the early morning hours, getting ready for whatever commitments filled his days.
She heard the shower running, heard him moving through the apartment.
Part of her wanted to get up and talk to him.
But another part — the bigger part — kept her frozen in bed.
By the time she emerged from the bedroom, he had already left the apartment, leaving behind only the lingering scent of his cologne and a coffee cup in the sink.
"Great start to the day," she muttered to herself, staring at the abandoned cup.
"Nothing says 'healthy relationship' like avoiding each other."
The film set felt different when she arrived that morning.
