It had hurt how truthful Annabelle’s comment had been. Unintentionally or not, the fact remained that Simone was upset. Or scared. Or ashamed. Heck, she didn’t know what on Earth she felt anymore. Amanda had been her life and Simone had been shattered when she had found the note. Devastated and purposeless: drifting in and out of the days alone.

And now Annabelle. Simone had reached out to her with Amanda’s old book, and the girl had responded with something personal of her own. Trust. The older woman didn’t know what she wanted from her student. At times there was absolutely no question as to what it was. And yet, seconds before acting – every damn time – a voice in her head sounded and she pulled away.

“Do I make you nervous?” Annabelle had all but questioned. Her fingers had traced Simone’s collarbone; a hinting promise of what she could give. Simone’s body had risen to this promise – a muscle pulling low and tight inside of her, forcing her either to close her eyes and control the sensation or ride the pleasure straight into Annabelle’s kiss. It was only with tremendous effort that she had managed to pull away.

Still, dreams had plagued her that night. Thoughts of Annabelle’s soft body on top of her; moving in rhythm, causing such a severe pleasure that Simone had woken up.

Swallowing hard at the inappropriate memory, Simone slowed her pace and threw her arms back, stretching the muscles in them mercilessly; maybe it would help her focus on something else. School. Blushing as she caught Annabelle’s eyes deliberately and slowly roam all over body. Maybe focus on something other than something else then. Amanda.

Immediately sadness began to pulse through her veins as it always did when she thought of her deceased lover. Simone fought the feeling – thoughts of her student still in the corner of her mind. If she was having the same type of feelings for Annabelle as she had once had with Amanda… The woman scuffed sand with her toes as she contemplated this. She had thought that having Michael in her life was good enough. He was sensitive, kind, (attempted being) funny, and was willing to commit. But the desire for him just wasn’t there. So she had thought that there was only one person she could love. But now, with these feelings for Annabelle… Maybe this meant that there was more than one person out there for… Aggravated and confused, Simone kicked at the sand – she just didn’t know!

Fighting the urge to cry, the blonde stuffed her hands into her pockets. Clenching her fists. Feeling her nails biting sharply into the soft flesh of her palms. She was so angry! Angry with Amanda for leaving. Angry with Michael for meaning so little to her. Angry with Annabelle for making her feel this way. And angry at the world for making the way she felt so wrong.

Unclenching her fists and straightening out her abused hands, Simone stood to her full height. Her chest was heaving with heavy breaths of emotion and her skin was seething a sad anger. She didn’t want to live this way any longer. She had to be assertive. To take control of her life and what she wanted. And the first step of this journey would be to rid herself of the gold cross around her neck, which carried a surprising weight of painful memories and sadness.

The resentment swelling under her skin once more, Simone yanked the delicate cross, breaking the thin chain that held it. She stared at it in her palm, lying innocently next to the angry crescent shaped marks that her nails had left. It was finally time to say goodbye.

A silent prayer flitted across her mind as Simone cast the cross into the hungry waves of the ocean.

Immediately she felt lighter. A weight had gone from her shoulders that she hadn’t even known existed. Amanda had been granted her final funeral. One last goodbye.

It was with a sad relief that a wearied Simone finally turned and began to trudge back to her house. She squinted at a figure beginning to ascend the steps from the beach and a wave of panic broke over her. Annabelle.

She had been so caught up in herself and her problems that she had forgotten all about her student!

With fast, fearful steps, Simone began to jog back to the house.