amilia

V:

after-party was the same. It seemed quieter, darker, and more personal now. A host said hello and inquir

aught sig

e, Ju

dark eyes. His fa

ose to a little fire pit. Everything else vanished a

my name seemed too famili

ding, I sat careful

remembered me." T

smiling. "I

s quiet b

" I muttered. "One of us

kened. "I wanted to kn

n. "I have no

ere the location. To dance, you da

ke that. However,

"You ki

a kiss in re

ng I couldn't identify was making my che

g it into two others. He touched me with h

ilent at the auct

indeed you." "And maybe... I wanted to t

-

d a f

ing haz

get away from, some

ilver locket from undern

nd said, "You gave th

ok it

wer, and on the other was a little pi

hand ove

"This is

authentic. Then you vani

weeks later, I was involved in an acci

eyes, as if it were more pa

d you fled

-

as we sat in silence. There was something diffe

me take you some

her

re you ma

e precise locati

. A little, splintered de

me as I stood there with th

wore a yel

e a sudden

iss. You sustained a lip

fall. "You said that you a

The rain's sound. His hands in m

urning with tea

rward me and put h

uld think, w

As if we were putting somethin

it got

firmly. Like it belonged the

ing the breeze

we parted ways. Where he t

e been waiting so long for you

"I'm he

dness in his grin. "But

ge later that evening. There wer

him to ho

adow appeared

s it?" I

ou should be aware of.

ped beating. "

ed silent

ul

"The land. the one on which you

me cold

ome months ago." "Until last night, I

al." "Why would you purchase th

construct a ne

over. "You intend

" he m

you feign concern for me i

that you were the renter. However, I didn

came quick.

side as he g

ed you to remember."

oes it cost?

in my pocket at

rd sent me

eviction. You've got se

ed at

nstructed th

d my ability t

aps both. In the dark, the message

ched me disintegrate from the inside

sue that notification,"

toward her. "I d

im. "You claimed not to have

y... explain." "Perhaps you would unde

at in order to get me closer again, you wer

d as he gra

"I trusted you for five seconds." "

ghtened. "I told t

out into the darkness

heard h

"There's som

sto

deserted. It wasn't until last night that I saw y

I was unable to. I ha

?" I inqu

he whispered

verse the current

hat I almost missed

rmed others be

ore I could ask him what he meant.

irectly at me with

her." "The girl for whom yo