CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

　　Annie moved through the supermarket like a robot that had been programmed to take things off the shelves and drop them into the cart. When she got home and started putting away her groceries, she was stunned by some of the things she'd bought. There were ingredients for actual meals, not just things she could nuke in the microwave or eat right out of the box. It's been a while since she prepared an actual meal.

　　She was brewing coffee when a knock sounded from the front door.

　　Glancing over, she saw her best friend Naomi through the window and rushed to open the door for her to come in.

　　"I see that you went shopping," Naomi said when she saw all the things Annie had bought from the supermarket. "That's a lot of groceries, what are we celebrating?" She added.

　　"There's no celebration," Annie said in a low tone, she still hadn't decided on what to do with Damien and his outrageous offer. Naomi could tell that she was In a bad place this morning and decided to ask.