s were th

lian' s, and the walls

hear eve

ces, Clara' s high-pitched l

the ceiling, my hands clench

der of my displacement, a brutal

the sound

s grew loud

the words, but the t

s a f

s anger, the shrill, plead

mmed, followed b

rt of me felt a flic

rld wasn' t so p

in the kitchen, sitting at the t

there were dark cir

ried to smile, but it

elia," she said,

nd went to the

want to t

was de

last night," s

ut y

was doing and t

M

she said, looking

worried because you were so... c

lled with a strange mix of

you know. I

?" I asked, m

eyes darting toward the door as

me. He's always been obsessed with you, Amelia.

a wave of disgust

t just a rival, s

take my silenc

er robe, revealing a faint, b

metimes," she said,

n to, but... h

own life, a sad tale of a poor family

tim, a girl who had to fight

me understand, to mak

it's like," she said, t

now he's your only chance at a real life. I love h

my face a

life, how this same

low victim, and that pi

not that g

tragic end was a sh

Clara," I said, my voice cu

mouth slightly

nued, looking her directly in

ou went to all this trouble

the coffee machin

y back, her shock and confusi

game, and in doing so, I h

filling the silent kitc