Jacob gave the guards a few last instructions, then walked toward her and gently pinched her cheek.
_"No need to wait around. Go on upstairs."
She giggled sweetly and headed up the stairs.
The moment she got there, she was met with Matthew's frown.
+"Haven't you learned not to keep your guests waiting, kid?"
-"Well... I mean, waiting.."
Matthew rolled his eyes.
+"And she's still trying to explain herself."
-"Okay, okay... I'm sorry!"
She quickly opened the door.
Her eyes scanned the room. She'd missed it this tiny apartment.
Despite its size, it felt more like home than anywhere else. She was attached to it.
She shrugged off her coat and pushed up the sleeves of her red turtleneck.
-"I'll start right now."
She stepped into the bedroom.
_"She doesn't have bad taste, does she?"
Matthew glanced at Jacob, then around the place.
He didn't want to admit it, but yeah, it was true. She clearly knew how to make a space feel warm and inviting.
Diana quickly pulled out her laptop and violin, placing them gently on the table.
-"Can't forget these!"
She went back into the room.
Jacob raised his voice slightly.
_"Diana, you know how to play the violin? Why haven't you ever mentioned it?"
She raised her voice in return.
-"Because you never asked!"
She had a point, honestly, they didn't know much about her. Other than Diana's surface-level chatter, she'd never shared much about herself or her life.
She came out of the room, panting, carrying another box. Jacob quickly stepped in and took it from her.
_"You've gotta tell me when it's heavy. What's in here?"
-"Just a few keepsakes from my parents, my jewelry, some gifts, my favorite books, photo albums, and um... a few personal things."
She then headed toward the kitchen and started opening cabinets. Jacob raised a brow, surprised.
_"Diana? Are you seriously taking the dishes too?"
-"Not all of them..just my favorites! They're seriously cute…
I really wish I could bring them all. I've got so many memories with these."
_"Well… maybe we'll come back again."
Matthew was lounging on the three-seater couch, quietly smoking a cigarette.
Jacob placed the box down on the table again.
_"Just my clothes left! I'll hang them in garment covers, and then… we can go!"
They both noticed she was trying to swallow down the lump in her throat. She was using a smile to distract herself, to hold it together.
She grabbed a few of her favorite outfits, folded them over her arm, and came out of the bedroom again.
-"I think that's everything I wanted. Just one thing..
that night, I left my phone in my locker at the restaurant.
Can we stop by? I really hope they didn't throw my stuff out."
Matthew frowned.
+"We'll get you a new one. You don't need that phone."
-"It's not just the phone. I've got important info on it. I need it."
He exhaled, clearly annoyed.
+"If you're done, let's go."
She gave the apartment one last glance and took a deep breath.
-"Yeah... that's it. We can go."
Both men stood up. Matthew glanced over at her.
-"Be downstairs in five."
She gave a short, awkward laugh.
-"Y-yeah. I'll be quick."
They headed down the stairs,Matthew went straight to the car, while Jacob lit up a cigarette outside.
Exactly five minutes later, Diana stepped out and gently closed the door behind her.
She looked up at the sky.
The snow was falling harder now. Funny… the day she'd moved into this apartment, it had been snowing too.
Jacob walked up to her. The bags under her eyes were visible, and the tip of her nose was red, just like her eyes.
She'd clearly been crying again.