NA

inful memories. He didn't pull away; we leaned into

eyes were red and puffy. I had always seen Albert as a p

t his father and his grandfather and had been for

me after revealing his vulnerability. I

ould stroll down the

thing before he slowly nodded. I let go of his h

ning the narrow path, their leaves rustling softly in the

us, but then Albert spoke up

mp in my throat. "She

heart heavy as I added, "My mother was my

er married again. Or at le

curiosity in his ey

epsister named Anne." Just saying

lped raise her, never imagining she w

e as we walked on, my eyes

iancé," I said, the name tasting bitter on m

med, disbelief et

paused, feeling the weight of my word. "I recorded everything; I thought having proof would make it

cheek. "So I showed ev

pped to a whisper.

asn't his daughter." As we approached a small lake hidden among th

de me, his attentio

as only valuable to him because he t

lity. "Then I learned Anne was his real daughter;

f the water filled t

above a whisper. "I sat outside with my suitcase, not

h now burned with intensity inste

his gaze pierc

eyes locked onto mine. I told him their names, and

dn't have faced that alone." His words struck me like

; I buried my face in my hands, desperate to

nd opened his arms wide. I hesitated for a second, then leaned into him, fe

didn't have to pretend to be strong anymore, and the qu

lanced at our faces, reading the unspoken words, but chose not to pry. Ins

l. I stopped by the small annex next to the office and spent the mor

cked the food into separate containers,

would enjoy it. I walked into the main office, balancing the containers in my hands

up." I ignored her and tried to walk p

she asked, her curios

iness," I shot ba

ace. "You think you can come here any

"Move," I warned, my voice low and steady. Instead of stepping asid

oss the gleaming tiles. I stood frozen, fury bubbling inside me. I had poure

e in the insulated lunch bag. Whispers kept swirling around

fore I could reach for the lid, one of the women kic

op

nce; Claire had shoved me. I staggered back, and the containers

could hear heavy footsteps approachin

, scanning the women, the me

ding his hand to help me up. His gaze was fix

your desk," he said in a low voice

of color as she gulped

efore the security throw