the place where two broken souls touched-

nd the faint sound of rain outside the window became th

creaked op

hin black satin mask, covering most of her features and revealing on

re quiet, alm

hard it felt like it w

r cold, damp fingers clut

stranger's room, with a man rumored to be gravel

t, Alysa," Raisa

, your fathe

now-wearing a mask, trying to contain h

s body looked weak, but his eyes still

the masked wo

is stare-something strang

Kenan's voice was rou

her head. Her

someone who ca

smile. "Funny. Everyone who's ever tr

if searching for something-p

e was the shadow of

alone still made h

e told himself. Alysa is

r heart stopped every

l his eyes-those eyes that once looked at her

exhaled

he murmured. "But if you're h

eness in his words made

. can't

"Wh

. someone wil

, puzzled. "Wh

y looked down, fighting the s

too danger

led the room

Kenan turned

uietly. "If this must h

rendering himself to a f

stirred-a faint pulse of fam

step felt heavy, like carr

ed, staring at the man'

r heart. If you knew who I wa

his cold chest. She could feel his

m her eyes, landing

opened

u're c

said quickly, w

ust...

raid o

f what comes

here was a raw honesty in her voice-too

e energy in his body felt like i

ed his e

do what you

otect her-now weak and unaware that the woman befor

wrapped

reathing fill

moved pai

nd pierced

while Kenan fought to stay conscious, hau

ithout words, without love, wit

was no

o

in meeti

-

later, it

staring at the man in silence. Tear

r robe, and reached for the

ne last time-the same face she once

rry..." sh

everyt

e door, her heart bre

r could close, a we

Wait

rned slightly but da

at her through

eyes..." h

ey feel...

s breat

to scream that she was

ice refused

thing she sacrificed

no one," she

rget

nt smile and clos

ut it feels like I just l

ierced throu

again, uncontrol

mouth to keep f

m, into the night-leaving th

-

enan lay still, sta

s body felt lighter... bu

changed that night-somet

, mixed w

d the door that

you are..."

e... but you

his eye

lids, her face appe

he murmured

eel... like

, Alysa held herself tightly. Her body trembled-no

.." she cr

n the truth, you'l