a

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was burnished a dark brown, no doubt the most expensive the funeral home could offer. The

, aberrant flowers in the white rose world. I had stubbornly chosen the wreath, knowing what he liked best, but I did

r stage whisper, pity more ven

ir-bound. Who would marry her unless

ffensive. She possibly meant to say every

ie would usually nod a

Seale was tall and slim, flat-chested but sexy, based on how men's eyes often skimmed her body. She was Emilie's best friend. On the other hand, Emilie would be the picture that would first pop out if you search for a blonde bombshel

businessman, but he was also a philanthropist, mentor, and activist. Some relatives were there, not a threat to t

s also why he took me in after an accident had left me crippled and orphaned. Most people shied away from the word "

found myself apologizing and saying "Excuse me" a few times that day. I wo

to overwhelm – flashes of the scene that I found dad in. Closer to his body,

cre

th my screams. Then, I heard my siblings rushing fro

re they

samples and pictures, the room was still out of bounds

est did not want to share what the police a

surely they could see that nobody in this ho

they were also guilty. But what did I know then? All I knew was that they barely asked me anything, simply because I was i

I should be reli

ew most of them. Many of them liked me. It went with the territory th

degree in Mathematics and Literature. When you could not walk, dance, and run, you found ways to show them, "Look at m

. Please call on us whenever yo

o horrible, finding your dad like

at me. They were afraid to go down there – being

speculative fiction blog. I also tutored wealthy kids online. I was pretty proud that I had helped many get over their fear of Mathematics. Letters and numbers wer

t was going on? Why would they be making a lot of noise? The hushed whispe

t tall, but he somehow disguised it with his bent back. It was not a posture problem, I could tell, but more of a way to hide himself from all the eyes that were on him. He wore a dark suit, elegant from afar but cheap compared to what

ack, he had walked close enough fo

attack me right in the middle of a crowded room. His eyes were not cruel, more likely defe

ce was deep, but I could recognize the uncertainty there. It was not easy for him t

am not formally adopted. It's Valerie

ed in the crowd. Some had returned to their conversation

other people thought of him, but the situation had made him slightly awkward. Should I feel sorry for him? My heart twisted a little, but I knew that I did not want people feeling sorry for

er. I do not know you. A

htened himself again. His gaze was

I am Janus Malcolm, Mr.

. His face, however, was stormy, as he continued looking at the cas