idn't

-wet, barefoot, ey

agged itself ou

e

before Elias even

the world had f

.Le

ress clung to her body like second skin. It was ripped

breathed. "

e room in two

flin

fro

id, voice cracking in a way I hadn't h

e she didn't recognize the walls. "I

hind them,

urned

idened. "W

didn't

r. Confused. Her voice cracke

outh, but no

ck, hands trembling

too quickly. "It's n

laugh. "Then explai

ed at him

dn't

wa

st

se she

. I heard him telling the housekeeper to burn the

s and he already remembe

la &

ide her door

ces were

as cr

s pro

was noth

o sleep.

sipping tea I didn't want. The

efoot, tired. He did

did, he

n't be awak

d say t

through his hair. "It'

ea. "Because it feels ex

s not

answering

chair across from

member where she's been. She ha

t remember.

. "Bits and piece

conve

ed. "Don'

wh

nto somethin

xactly do you thin

dn't

walked

" I said, voice low. "But now she's back, and you're

needs

I did

shut

n't slee

he edge of the fountain. Barefoot again. Her arms wrappe

look like

oked h

es fou

me," she s

"I don't ev

me." She smiled, but it didn't rea

ow what to

er. "I used to sit here for hours. I used

di

he stem until the thorns pierc

d me the way I thought

besi

speak fo

she said, "I think som

eath

ha

s. A car. A scream. A

u tell

d. "He already ha

're not th

t me. "Did y

sita

d. "And mayb

like she al

as took Lena to the

yed b

ee him fawn over h

to be the ex

nt back to th

the vide

at he

eyes of someone sc

eyes of some

eone s

had a t

nd, 11:

ished A

drive. Searched dates. Opened a

ph

lurry

rked by

tandin

ding acros

d

o

t

one

e f

ent cl

ere two

dimmed as I

t hit me lik

n't the first