THE SALT OF HER TEARS.

九

< wedding cake >

YOU ordered a wedding cake from me on the second of february. i knew it would be the last cake i could - would - ever bake again.

"hello," you had said to me, your bright bunny smile gone. it was the same smile, but it was so sad, so forced. i hated seeing you like that. i asked you what happened, and why you seemed so upset, but you shrugged me off, saying it was not anything.

i knew you were lying, but why would you lie to me?

but i did not press you further. quietly you took the same clipboard from my hands, and filled the boxes in. "that would be... eight-eight dollars," i say, forcing a bright smile onto my face, if only to shroud my disappointment and hurt. "i... eighty-eight? i can't afford that much..." you mumbled, but i heard.

"don't worry, i'll pay for it," i told you, and it put a tiny smile on your face. it was beautiful.

"thank you," you say, and shuffle out of the room with a small 'good-bye'.

what made you so sad?