She was much thinner, was obviously not eating much and drinking more, and was not worrying about her health, which still needed care.Ĭassidy took a deep breath and sat back on her chair, fingering the glass of alcohol with her strong fingers, her watery eyes fastened onto the shiny exterior of the glass.

She was in a complete emotional shutdown. Robie was very worried, Cassidy would cry in her arms when they spent time together, had completely shut down in every way they'd had connections. George had called Ashleigh too on behalf of herself and Gretchen they'd both had dinner only once during that month with Cassidy, who had seemed to them empty inside. He even called Ashleigh, whom he knew to be her doctor, to find out 'what could possibly be wrong with Cassidy.' She wasn't working, she wasn't writing, and Joel was becoming worried about her. She seemed to have given up hope on life.

Cassidy just shrugged and didn't say much more. It had been over a month since they'd last seen one another, and the pain was palpable.Īshleigh wondered why Cassidy had not told Andrea the truth of her feelings when she had the chance, and called her friend on it. She had an idea of what had happened, getting the story from Andrea herself, who sounded as bad as Cassidy looked. She was silent, seemingly empty inside, her only movements being those of bringing herself to the small café and of sipping from her cup the hard liquor that Ashleigh had been trying to prevent her from drinking. Cassidy sat across from her, her eyes eloquently revealing her despair. Ashleigh could see the bags under Cassidy's eyes as she sipped on her tea.

Sweet Surrender by Ashleigh Walton