ie

ntricate masterpiece of ston

d of roasted coffee and damp earth, a stark contrast to the dry

deafening symphony of Vespas and to

presso that had gone cold. It tasted vi

s seat

t history class, her scarf perfectly

" I

ou're the American girl, right? The one

sted into a ti

her phone as if pulling up a receipt. "I saw him

said, forcing my gaz

*I will always take care of her.* It felt like a jok

call him. It was a moment of weakness, born of exhaustion an

g once

He hadn't just missed it;

an email pinge

ect:

am buried with the merger. Do not disturb me unless it is a

I was safe. He just scolded me like a di

laptop with

to the window and pressed my hand against

opened social media. It was

here

iamond ring on her finger, catchi

starts today. #E

rld st

stead, I felt a cold numbness spreading from my chest to my limbs, like

ilding a life that had ab

in the background of the photo was polite, r

The air in my lungs fe

to my s

te Ac

you s

es

een wen

ess rhythm against the roof. I was alone in a foreign country. I h

n orpha

I wouldn't lo

mpty room, my voice steady.

a fresh canvas. I picked up a b

years. I ha

wouldn't be Ellie the ward.

ger. And strangers