A plan

DAY 22

The home was strangely silent, having been asleep till ten in the morning by Phina. Though she didn't know when Patrick departed for work, she knew he had.

She reminisced about their incredible weekend. She wouldn't have believed it if someone had told her Patrick could be so sweet. Over the weekend, he revealed a new side to her.

And she realized something else: their rendezvous with the money-laundering ex-girlfriend. She hoped he was overthinking her. She wanted him to forget about it since she felt terrible for him somehow. She wishes for him to be unharmed. She has been hurt by him a few times, but it doesn't make her feel any better. That day, she wanted to give him a small surprise. She considered surprising him with small gestures that would bring him joy.

It took her many minutes to come up with a solution. Then, satisfied, she smiled and got to work implementing her plan.