t papa's face, my mind

ng married to that cold and aloof

about, papa?" I aske

him, Evelina." Papa r

u're saying," Babushka said. "Go

him, but papa was adamant. He

papa responded as he stood up to leave.

confused and lost in my thoughts. I f

ftly as she walked up to me,

I asked her, my voice shaking with t

t mean what he just said," Babushka tried to e

hka." I heard Sana say, her

anger. "This is all you. This was what you mea

, but damn, did she

asked her, my voice barely a whisper

t?" Babushka asked

g about, Babushka." Sana quickl

morning, she was acting really strange," I turned to Babushka. "She told me that I must be happy now that she's getting m

ana?" Babushka asked he

ng as I was overwhelmed by what was going to happen today.

this

" I asked her, my voice

aimed, her voice r

t makes t

will I lie about something like that when I know

na, are you truly pregna

rustration. "I even have the test results from the hospital, I'll show them

one marrying the CEO at the end

om and she began searching for the papers, her movements jerky and desperate. Whe

ught being pregnan

walking up to Babushka and holding

papers and let out a sign. I

," Babushka handed the papers back to Sana and turne

up his mind." Sana said as she followed us out of th

fore the end of the day, because Sana is

id as she gave her a sharp lo

g loudly in my chest. We already knew that's wh

cool voice answ

like this was just a normal day and he hasn't just

n front of his desk, while

lk," Babushka said as s

his voice firm and unwavering. He rubbed his fore

ple,if we just end up giving up this opportunity it will be a travesty. If Evelina gets married to Dmitri P

and company, but what about our fee

of age, she is too young," Babushka sai

when you were younger,

changing, Nikolai, don't do this." Babushka

on is final." Papa declared, h

e is s

be meeting him in 2 days." Papa turned to me,

grew up to love? What

ee the pain and desperation in my eyes. Then I w

rried off, but I just didn'

to do things, I wanted to live lif

w myself on my bed, the weight o

as I walked over to mama's

with tears in my eyes a

'm overreacting when I've always known I was going to

hen papa finally gave me freedom, but it's gone now, mama, it's all gone. I'm going to get married to a man I don't know

to experience the type of love you and p

ck finally broke, and I jus

it's my reality. I thought I had more time. I'

n't have a choice. Papa has made up

ng I didn't know

***

chirping at my window. The sun

erything that happened yesterday. It felt

for the day and whatev

of freshly baked food filled the air, remin

dining room and everybody was already there. A

d took the seat c

r?" Babushka asked whil

y a whisper. "Yes, Babushka." I

ost in our own thoughts. The only sound was t

was so thick, you coul

a cleared his throat,

"It will be a small crowd this time around. We wil

this mouth shut! I know, I know, he's my pa

ice sharp with disapproval. "Let her have some tim

ove with her. She just gets me. Her presence alon

or that. I glanced at, catching her smil

the mood to engage i

aid to no one in particul

no one came to bother me. Just

***

called fiance is finally h

my room was swarmed with s

had my hair styled. All the while, I felt like a puppet, being dressed up and

t? I think I'm beginn

ng and preening, I w

ror and I didn't recognize

making my blue eyes sharp. My hair, elegantly styled in a loose bun

ke a Disney

e mirror, I made my way downstairs,

two days ago, a blessing because I wou

hest. Standing in front of the door, I paused to g

up all over my dress, which was why I didn't eat anyt

my eyes landed on was