Endure

T W E N T Y - O N E

There was no way I could do this. Not now at least. 

Somehow I found myself pulling up to the coffee shop. Perhaps out of desperation to clear my mind or pure procrastination, I wasn't sure. 

As soon as I stepped in, the heavenly aroma of coffee set in . . . along with guilt.  

At least Daniel brought cinnamon rolls in attempt to make things less awkward between us. I was here just because I didn't want to face Sasha at all.

It was selfish really. 

I ordered a second coffee, hoping it'd get rid of the guilt twisting my insides and headed to Jade's shop. 

I had to do this. I told Daniel I would. He was counting on me.

However, my heart was still pounding from seeing him and now it wouldn't stop because I knew I had to see Sasha and give her the envelope. Worst of all, I didn't even know what this was all about. 

Why was this envelope with Gabe's stuff anyway? What did Gabe have that belonged to Sasha? Why did he even have something was was her's?

I slowed to a stop as I parked in front of the shop. The shut door stared right back at me. 

How was I even supposed to do this? 

I checked my eyes one more time before getting out of the car but my legs turned to jelly as I walked up to the shop entrance. I could just slip the envelope under the door and leave . . . but Daniel said it had to be in the right hands and there was only one way to be sure of that. 

Then again, I had no idea what any of this was about. I was trusting him blindly. 

Before anymore doubts could fill my mind, I pulled the door open.

Bells jingled through the air as I stepped inside. 

"We're closed," a voice called from the back before Sasha appeared and her eyes landed on me. "Oh." She paused. "Jade's not here."

"I'm not here for Jade." I took a few steps inside the empty shop. A single light shone above the register, dimly lighting up the rest of the shop. I looked down at the two coffee cups in my hands. "Um, what--what time do you get off?" 

She glanced at the coffee before looking up at me, confusion flashed on her flawless face before she quickly turned away. "Who else is here?" She busied herself, fixing the gowns on display.

Now it was my turn to give her a confused look. "No one. I just came to give you this." I set the coffee down and took the envelope out of my bag, holding it out to her.

She kept her attention on the gowns, not even glancing my way. "You could just leave it. I'll get to it later." 

"It's important." 

"Yeah. I'll get to it later," she repeated, turning to me.

I held my breath. "Okay. Just--Maybe open it when you have time. Not when you're, like, in the middle of something."

Confusion returned to her eyes as they flickered to the envelope then to me before slowly taking it.

"Um, it was found with Gabe's stuff in Daniel's car," I told her, fiddling with my sleeves. "Daniel told me to give it to you."

She stayed quiet, her eyes fixed on the envelope before she turned it around and slipped her thumb beneath the seal.

"Wait--" I stopped her and she looked up at me. "Maybe you should sit down."

She rolled her eyes but brought the envelope down. "You're freaking me out."

"I know. I'm freaked out. But you need to have it."