*
Maggie sat at her table staring at her laptop. As she suspected, she had no internet connection. She opened her favorite game, one she downloaded before she left England and tried to win it. The game was particularly challenging, which was her favorite kind, but it was difficult to concentrate.
She was clearly depressed, although she told herself she was better off not having to work there anymore. Still, a last paycheck was a daunting reality, one that couldn't help but depress even the most mentally sound person.
"You are strong enough," she tried to convince herself. "You shall survive this."
It was a stupid thing to do, but she kept watching for Austin to sign on. He couldn't, of course, but old habits were hard to break. She considered looking up other internet providers, but for that, she needed to be on the internet.
Discouraged, Maggie got up and lay down on her bed.
Across the room, her ball gown hung on a nail in the wall. She tried to imagine what it would be like to be with Austin, finally. It could be a disaster, just as previous attempts at dating had been. On the other hand, this could be the beginning of something she had waited for her whole life - love, that's what she longed for most - someone to love her.