en
ed in through the curtai
few hours of sleep. My mother's incessant
her crayons scattered around her. She looked up wit
th you to the party?"
he staff must have be
or little girls like you," I s
o coloring; thankfully, she
ad in the kitchen did nothing to c
to my mother's room, balan
awn halfway letting in litt
y and set the tray
tered open, t
le
ows against the headboard and placed the cup in her
at your brother," she
an I barely know. No, this isn't
took the wrong risks that didn't end well for him, but he is still y
laugh. "But that doe
a, don't harden your heart against him, try and s
y eyes. "And what about the
imes love means sacrifice
ears because I couldn't let he
back downstairs. I felt a pang of guilt knowing that I ha
want to go outdo
th the biggest smile on
miring different exotic flowers in the garden an
lam of the front door startled me. A mom
le
What doe
ee you in my
up to the room mumm
ka
his desk when I walked in.
ked, although it sounded more lik
t planni
s you as his date tonight. You don't w
be embarrassing when it was you," I pointed a finger
ead s
ved in shady business deal
ked with steel. "And that's why I'm trying to get
, by offer
ecause of him. So yes, Elena, you're go
e you for doing this
o, make sure you'
flaw hidden. In that moment, I could swear the woman staring back at me th
gal, perfect.
the silk and lace was just m
um
rway, her small hands clutching h
p. "You look l
tightened.
me to have a closer look. "The most beautiful pr
the ache in my chest. "Tha
over the diamond stones on the dre
e soft smell of shampoo that clung to her hair. "No
I won't be there to always te
my eyes. "I'll just have to remember what you
y convinced. "Promise
ighter as if she could anchor me a
quisite decorations, and laughter. Music swelled
as ten years o
uccess to every mother. But to me, all that polish felt
his gaze lingered on me. Not in a way
tiful tonight Elena." He s
you," I
ble to keep their eyes off
response to that so
ds turned in our direction
smile. I could survive just this o
I could do was follow him around, smiling
some drinks at the bar, an
t it, eyes...
fted acros
here
son
der. Eyes harder. And still som
left m
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