wen

e felt like de

t fell like a blade. Eyes burned into me from ever

hed, her chin tilted in sadness, and Lizzy stood to the sid

hance to explain.

er's voice slammed into me like a

pened, but no words came. I f

e sheets by now?" he added. "Cele

s nearly

"

cracked in

up!" h

eart thudding. "He chose some

eeper than any attack could ha

dly laugh. It was

r high-pitched giggl

eered, "He picked the h

s I'd been holding onto finall

r just

et was d

ged for some bit of com

ins

t chamber," he told Lizzy. "She

that

o anger for the man who b

dim, foreign. I fell on the bed without undressing, the weigh

s didn't answer

ext morning, the nightmare h

mask my tears. Then I dressed, cleaned the

ing the same in our imaginary future. I pictured the house

laced by dust a

om tiredness and sadness. Every corner I cleaned felt like

oom. It would ne

Her smell was all over it. And I wasn't about

e bed. The tears came

stopped m

ted, u

" I asked,

zzy said from

dn't

ready," s

t hu

or. I need t

ntly, I

tray of food and an unr

id, taking a seat. "Father. Mothe

snapped. "I can feel their

orry I laughed yesterday. It's just...

her, the shame cra

ure. He kissed my hand and swore he'd never leave. B

this time. She watc

she said. "You l

dn't

ned to tell me she'd tried t

her said you're no better than the maid h

e me all o

ing to busy myself. The mango tree stood tall in th

s whispered

e's

hear what

thet

s and returned to my room, locking the door behin

and went with food, updates, and

in the bathroom when s

You have

y hands stop

at?

," she said, joking. "

y heart

ae

t could

it him? O

feet stumbled as I tugged on a simple go

ferent faces-Kaelen. An old fri

ors to the living ro

wall

that door might chan

it open-

ot Kaelen. Not a

e seat. His robe brushed the ground like a breeze. His

owen," he s

bli

quiet grace of a predator. "I

ize him. Not completely. But somet

are

t didn't touch it. His fi

r now. But if

ed into somethin

uld be

to his eyes,

dangerous. D

speak, but n

id. "Something that might interest a

d screamed for caution, but my h

nd of pro

kind that involves

when I h

distance. Famili

ae

was

wider. "Looks like I