***
Afterward, Rose spent the night awake on the bed, staring at the black ceiling and listening to Tyler’s deep breathing as he slept beside her. When she got scared he might wake up, she snuck out of the bed. Outside his window, the first light of dawn was approaching, and the night fled before it. Just like Rose was fleeing from Tyler.
She collected her discarded t-shirt from the floor and tiptoed toward the safety of her room. Once inside, Rose locked the door. Tyler wouldn’t try to wake her the next morning; he had to leave early for the airport. She didn’t want to say goodbye. She couldn’t.