12:00

At midnight, in between side glances, unshed tears, and finished coffees, the leader's words broke the sweet silence.

"My apartment is around the corner, if anyone would like to stay the night."

It wasn't just the words that he had spoken that had everyone rising, it was the words he hadn't.

I don't want to be alone tonight.

And we're all together again.

Can't we pretend, just for tonight?

That everything is good.

That we are okay?

That we'll keep on pushing through.

Can't we just lie together one more time.

I don't know if we'll meet again.

And goodbye is such a hard word to say at midnight.