When lovely Sunday came, Mariana tied her shoelaces like she always did, while seated on the edge of the bench. Her earphones were plugged in as she was listened to Bring me to Life with an innocent smile on her lips.

Listening to Evanescence proved to be some comfort to her distressed soul, as her soothing, yet disturbing words sang out the sad symphonies, out from the deepest depths of her sunken heart.

Wake me up inside.
Wake me up inside.
(Save me).
Call my name and save me from the dark.
Bid my blood to run.
Before I come undone.
(Save me).
Save me from the nothing I've become.

She sang it silently under her breath so that the others that were in her group won't hear. Even though she tried to keep it below a whisper, Amell still heard her from far away and he found her voice pretty enchanting, even shuffled a bit closer so that he could hear better, but not too close so that she became suspicious.

He could hear the gentle murmurings of her tone that was sweet as sugar, the rosy blush on her cheeks sparked through the tanned shade of her skin, it suited her very much, with the boldness of her eyelashes, looking more voluminous, with the mascara she applied in the morning. He saw a bit of sparkle around her eyelids spotted in her bronze eye shadow. But behind that, he could some pale red in her eyes, as if all didn't seem to be.

When Mariana was all done, she quickly drank her water and put it down. She got up and pulled the hem of her tank top down, just covering over her butt, and got in line. Even though she was in pain, Zumba always seemed to cheer her up no matter what mood she was in.

Once they were done with the salsa warm-up, Amell changed the song to Zumba He, Zumba Ha which had a more positive, upbeat tune, and the lyrics flowed through her body, like it was bringing her to life. Her waist started twirling along as she turned to Amell's movements. He went to the side while moving his arms across his chest, making everyone else follow him.

Mariana clapped and rolled her hands in the air, her legs stepped everywhere and suddenly they went in slow motion. Their hands cut through the air like the slows waves of Latin rhythm. She soon got in the groove as they hit the chorus. Her feet started drumming to the ground, and her hands circled in front of her like she was a fan.

Mariana felt light on her feet at the temporary buzz she was feeling. It even overrode the sharp pain that palpitated through her chest like it was her flow of blood. It still felt there was nothing there, like a void where her heart should've been, but instead there was an aching organ.

When the dance was finished, Mariana drank more of her water and wiped the beads of sweat off her face. She grabbed her bag and swung it over her shoulder, ready to depart.

"Hey Mariana." Amell quickly jogged up to her before she had a chance to leave.

"Oh hey," Mariana responded, quite out of breath.

"Good job." He brought out his fist for her to fist-bump. She was quite surprised by it but fist-bumped him anyway.

"Thanks." She had her head down, away from eye contact, and was about to walk out when he called her back.

"Um hey, are you doing anything later?" He spoke up, quite nervously as he shakily fiddled with his fingers.

"Er... not really, why?" Mariana backed away a little bit, keeping her distance. She didn't feel comfortable with where this conversation was going as she didn't want to be disturbed.

"I was just wondering if you're not doing anything, maybe we can just go for a little walk?"

"Um, I don't know I really shouldn't..." Her eyes darted quickly to the side, more to the outside.

"Please? I just want to say something to you. I promise I won't keep you long." He tried getting a bit closer to her.

Mariana sighed heavily, shaking her head. She had little patience for this and didn't want her time wasted. And she was now feeling too tired to do anything.

"What is it you want to say to me?" Her voice rose a little, which she didn't mean but it still shocked Amell slightly and caused him to retreat his steps so he won't anger her more.

"I'm sorry," he said calmly to settle her a bit. He really didn't want the conversation to start off like this.

Mariana sighs and shook her hand apologetically. "No I'm—" She sighed again frustrated, unable to get her words out. "Sorry, I'm just having a bad week."

"Oh, is it about your relationship that you told me about some time ago?"

"Yes, especially that," she grumbled whole glaring to the side.

"Oh sorry... bad argument?"

She shrugged. "Meh, we broke up."

"Ooh, I'm so sorry..." Amell felt he overstepped with regards to that question.

"It's fine." She looked outside with a longing look, thinking that she had nothing to look forward to if she went straight home, stuck in her bed and playing sad melodies from her piano, feeling sorry for herself. She then looked back at Amell and thought that a little walk won't be that bad.

"Actually yeah, I won't mind going on a walk with you," she said, trying to make her voice sound positive and her smile inviting.

"Are you sure? I don't want to feel like a burden."

"No, I'm sure." She beckoned him toward her as she went out the door. Fortunately, her hair hid any tired expression she had on.

Amell came out with her and they started walking side by side the bustling street. People were chatting away on their phones. Mariana kept her head up, looking out into the distance. The noises of the cars driving by made the atmosphere between them less awkward and even nice.

"So, how are you feeling today?" Amell asked casually.

"Eh, I've had better days," Mariana said, the wind blowing a few of her strands across her face. She chuckled a little like she was getting tickled.

"Ha same, did you do anything before coming to Zumba?"

"No not really, I usually just get something to eat afterwards but I don't think I'll be doing that today."

"Did you have anything to eat this morning then?"

"Only water, it's the only thing that I can stomach at the moment."

"Oh girl, you shouldn't starve yourself because of your ex. He's not worth it and you deserve so much better than that."

"Thanks. I know it's not good and I shouldn't be doing that but I can't help it, the first few weeks I did get a bit hungry with not eating for a long time, but feeling hungry was better than the one inside my chest, and it didn't feel so bad, but now I just don't feel anything."

"Aw, I'm sorry you feel that way. I felt like that towards Charlotte when we broke up." He avoided looking at her and instead, kept his attention on the tiny stones he kicked across the sidewalk.

"Yeah, it's sad." Mariana sighed. The days after felt like all her emotions were being blended into confusion. For hours, she was consumed with tears and sweat that washed all the pain down her face, her chest filled with painful agony as she rolled around her bed, finding comfort in her chocolate brownie. But then her feelings went away and she turned numb, no more crying, just the silent whisper of her love slowly disappearing into the darkness.

"Tell you what, why don't I get you a pretzel? To cheer you up?" Amell suggested, his head turned up to the light.

"A pretzel? That's a bit random..." Mariana chuckled.

"Well it is one of my favorites, and it is a yummy snack."

"True, alright," she said, trying not to laugh.

They went into a bakery and Amell brought her a big, cinnamon pretzel. Mariana couldn't stop her beaming smile as she took a little bite. It was very sugary around the outside and it tasted very delicious.

"Thanks, Amell," she said as they walked out.

"You're welcome, it's my pleasure."

They sat down on a small brick wall as Mariana dug into the pretzel. She has not had one of these for a long time and the last time she did, they were small so she wasn't expecting one this big.

"So, do you mean telling me how you guys broke up? Just out of curiosity?" He asked.

"Do you want to tell me about how you and Charlotte broke up?" Mariana asked back, with a straight face, and without looking at him.

"I—Um—"

"Don't ask me about my ex then." She smirked and continued eating her pretzel.

"Good point, sorry."

"It's okay, thanks for the pretzel." She turned to him and smiled widely. She enjoyed his company and the food. It was a nice treat at the end of a workout and at the end of the week.

She put the wrapper in the trash and wiped her mouth with her hand. "Well I had a nice walk with you but I really would like to go home now."

"Okay, I'll see you later Mariana." He got off the wall and gave her bag to her.

"See you." Her hand was low as she waved goodbye, but Amell stopped her before she could completely disappear.

"Hey, by the way, can I get your number?"

"Um, why do you want my number?" She asked suspiciously.

"Just in case if you wanna chat? Or if you need someone to talk to, or you wanna do something...?"

She looked up to the sky while processing her decision. It didn't seem like such a bad idea, and it was nice getting to know someone new that she hadn't really known before.

"Okay, since you so were nice to me." She went back, bringing her hand out. "Give me your phone."

He took it out of his pocket and she began typing out her number into his contacts. "There you go." She smiled as she gave it back to him while brushing her hair away from her face.

"Thanks, Mariana!" He said cheerfully.

"You're welcome, now I really gotta get going." She brought out her car keys and played with them as she walked away.

"Oh and Mariana?"

"Yes?" Her head slightly turned back.

"You have a nice singing voice. That is what I wanted to say."

Mariana was quite surprised at his compliment, for she didn't expect anyone to hear her in the studio but she did appreciate it, even though she had second thoughts.

"Thanks," she said, her eyes twinkling as she went to her car from a long day.

When she got home, she changed into her pajamas and then buried herself into her bed, feeling exhausted, as she grabbed her keyboard from the side and Rio jumped onto her lap.

"You okay Rio? Do you want to listen to some Evanescence?" She asked as he curled up next to her, closing his eyes.

"Okay, maybe not." She sighed and then pushed down some of the deep notes of the keys, her comfort tone of this week. She laid it onto her lap and then started playing Lacrymosa, her eyes concentrated as her voice got more melancholy, and her fingers started stabbing down the keys.

"Now that you're gone, I feel like myself again," she murmured darkly like she was in her own little world. Her eyes which were like her own personal abyss settled onto the black keys. The remnants of her heartbeat she heard clearly in her ears. Slowly, but it was still there. The lights surrounding her flickered as the outside seemed to slowly simmer down.

"Grieving the things I can't repair and willing..." she mumbled like she was recalling the past. How she was unable to change what had happened and that was what hurt the most. Not being able to turn back time, but maybe it was better like this. For she could truly see what Micah was. But still, she wished it didn't have to happen.

She continued singing until her phone rudely interrupted her. She grumbled and picked it up when she got a message from an unknown number.

Unknown: Hey is this Mariana?

Mariana: Yeah, this you Amell?

Unknown: Hey! Yeah, it is. How are you?

Mariana: Good, you?

Unknown: Yeah, I'm fine. I know this may seem a little sudden, but I wanted to ask if you would like to come with me on my morning jogs?

Mariana: Huh? I don't jog in the mornings😂😂😂.

Unknown: I know, but I just think it would be nice to try you know? Get your body started before work.

Mariana: You mean get me exhausted before I've even stepped inside where I work.

Unknown: Haha okay, I see this was a bad idea 😅lol.

Mariana: Eh maybe I could try, it doesn't sound that bad though.

Unknown: So do you wanna try it?

Mariana: Okay, but I'm not meeting you at my house, how about a park or something.

Unknown: Okay, you can send me the address of one near where you live.

Mariana: Okay, sure see you tomorrow.

Unknown: See you!

Mariana saved his name to her phone and then sent him details of where she would like to meet him. She then threw her phone somewhere and continued playing her piano.