y stared at me. Who was he? I asked myself. Everyone looked at me as though

f what I know, though always in the most aggressive manner. He taught me never to show emotions, and I was a quick learner. What I n

ason I hate men, especially men like you. And no m

stuck in this l

ntance. I had planned to mumble a few words, but that might not end well, Mother would hav

breath and b

different from anything I would have written about my father. They felt warm, affectionate, full of admir

to have learned from

top

s I supposed to do now? Everyone was waiting for me to finish the sentence. The silence stretched uncomfortab

s idea of a cruel joke to leave me stranded in the middle of my father's eulogy h

sliver to gauge the audience's reaction. As expected, they fell for it. Why wouldn't they? I was a

. I'm sorry, Mother, I thought as I turned and bol

, I had let myself be led astray by some nameless trickster. Hiding for an hour or mo

ays forbidden me from going inside, insisting it was no place for a girl. Once, when he caugh

t your mother told you not to set foot here, y

grip moved from my n

a grown woman. Isn't that... beautiful?" he wh

me in place. His breath was hot against my skin. I begged him to stop, but he wouldn't listen. Desperate, I

I

ever touched a man like

. Nanny Chopper once told me there was nothing scary down he

the dim light, I gasped. This wasn't just a tunnel, it was a secret hideout. The walls were adorned with delicate

I wondered. She must h

ts. "We meet again... I didn't

ned s

ce. He leaned against the stone wal

e asked. "You should be out

guests. And secondly, you have no right to question me. Why don't you l

"Ah. So, y

ng my eyes. "You didn't w

ad. "What makes

eep connection in those words, something I never shared

rd me. "Is that all

own my spine. He reached for my hand, h

s this

inst my ribs. When Father touched me, I wanted to run, to scream. But

ed suddenly, his gaze s

y trance bro

eone else is

time. I needed to come up with an excuse for Mother, an escape pla

you?" I

. "What do you th

ha

o my arms." His voice trembled. "I wrote to you so many times, but you never replied. When we were tog

rembling hand to my face. "Look into my

ed, but no w

d to re

LOD

choed through th

ering in my chest. When I looked back at him, he wa

red me more, Mother's wrath or the t