cross the polished marble floors. Dust motes danced in the air like tiny stars caught between real

e fabric. She wore an oversized sweater that once belonged to her father-a faded gray thing that smelled like his cologne and safety-and a

ted mo

ke. People meant conversations

ion meant

bird, humming to herself as she primped in front of every mirror in the house. She'd been un

Aleksa

her head made her stomach twis

ated down the hallway. "Come dow

else called her Bela. A nickname given to her by her father when she was little, a soft

name felt heav

ay, he was

ng her reflection in the hallway mirror. Pale skin. Dark eyes. Hair that always looked slight

con

se tucked neatly into a pleated skirt, her blonde hair perfectly curled, her makeup flawl

nne asked, notici

voiding eye co

r head. "You sure?

ot," s

rring softly against the silence of th

as h

er, Antonio, sat stiffly in his armchair, arms crossed over his chest, his expression unreada

e door

here

awline sharp enough to slice glass. He wore a simple black suit-not overly formal, but still elegant, sti

opped b

pected him to

clo

per

e. Didn't spea

lo

ght he

held

neck. She dropped her eyes immediately, pretending

stepping forward and taking Kyril's

was a

t. "Right. So you're the one my d

"It's an honor to meet

"Oh, please, call u

mained

d the moment she thought about speaking. What if she sounded

the couch, half-hidden, wat

Elena said gently, nudging her husband

his temples. "Marianne,

ation. "I've never been more

nched he

er. She really should. But somet

ing come so eas

Confiden

wanted, but neve

ced back a

kly turn

enly said, startling her.

a f

s turne

ammering in her chest. She kept her gaze lowere

r," Elena said proudly. "Isa

tended h

ted before

was fir

ctr

t go t

t you," he s

ded. "Y

was

ll she cou

d the couch, feeling lik

breaking the tension. "We should pr

dded. "O

es with their parents. As they moved t

softly. "See y

a small sm

oorway, glancing back

eyes

passed bet

ing un

he wa

closed be

felt emptier

-

That

t the ceiling, replaying t

et the way Kyril

ty. Not wit

th cur

thing in her tha

r side, clutching

self for thin

ling li

ster. Her only sibl

ldn't be

feel like to have someone like Kyril lo

her face in

wrong w

d to want what bel

she

p her,

-

Week

in the garden, wrapped in her father's old sweater. The air

ck and forth on the phone, giggl

said dreamily when she hung u

idn't

at the petals of a fal

d her silence.

rugged.

ay curl behind her ear. "You know... yo

ou think... do you ever fe

blinked

Bela whispered.

frowned.

imes..." She hesitated. "Sometimes I feel like

ing tightly. "You're not. You're impor

didn'

art cracke

e loved Ma

ed the boy who m

he was

he never

-

OF PR