OR'S

ould have s

lamped firmly onto the edge of her coffee mug. Elora did not answer right away. She sat before

Closure, maybe. I don't know. But if I'd known it would break you like that-if I

n't angry. Weary, yes. Worn in a way ti

like it was."

in through the window, casting a golden ray of sunlight around them. It had been years. Three? Four? Day

even a single message." Elora's voice trembled, "

her hand gently on Elora's knee. "Of course, she remembers you. She

ian saw to that. He cut me loose from her so neatly, i

llowed wasn't awkwa

srupting shock to the throbbing quiet that lived inside her. But she survived anyway. That first night, after she hauled her suitcase into the small apartment S

morning and personally took it to the headquarters. Lucian's name was still on the b

over. Atleast, that's what

r past. She worked tirelessly--days and nights, even weekends, whatever it took to keep her mind busy. She moved

y filled the s

re moments that the sorrow visited her like an

he subway tightly e

his daughter's

he heard the

'd smile like

g, keep working, keep living. Because w

ngry at myself. For thinking he would fight for us. For thinki

s afraid....

wered flatly. "

e simply nodded and let

o explain, or ask how I was doing, or at least let me talk to Nora. But he didn't. He never d

through a lot." Selene exhaled.

s. But she had promised herself, she would not weep.

she's gone. That he made sure I'd no longer be a part of her

ow, arms crossed tightly across her c

e not enough. Because that's never true. He made

her eyes shut as she whispered. "I

here togethe

look for her. Maybe Lucian would ever face what he'd done. But in that moment,

enough--at

the sound of keypads suddenly loud in the silence. Elora leaned back, rubbing her te

he pho

, probably a spam, she told herself. Or someone from work. Sh

el

le

most h

nd, familiar in a way that made he

lo

ed, trembling. Years of silence, and now.this. Her

llowed hard

cia