and move towards the piano gratefully.
relaxed in those moments. I can close my eyes and
keys. I usually play Chopin, but today, I decide inste
s my
t note rises up, blissful and simple. Th
ore them. I don't care if they pay att
not playin
ying fo
s, my fingers danc
I'm free of this ugly
far to
y good-daughter smile back on my face as I rise and turn to face
he a marvel?" Papa boasts, turning awa
. My fingers twitch again as I cl
the floor of my closet. I crawl under the silk sheets and try to fall asl
at the ceiling above my bed for an hou
sheets and get out of bed to trade my paja
rough the French doors, and
ungs. It makes me fe
kness calls my nam
our home's security guards, st
om his tone that he's concerned for me. Then again,
hing okay?
blunt nose and bushy eyebrows, but there's a tenderness to him that I
the cheek. "Hi, Mig
suit and the massive rifle slung across his chest, he's not much
tly against my father's orders-so he glances around to make sure no one
guel tells me excitedly. "Look
radiating off of him-this is how a father is supposed to talk abo
phone and hands it over to me with reverence. "H
wrapped up tight in a yellow blanket with
tight. "She's be
"She looks like her
both of you," I say, hand
g up so late?" Mig
sly. "I was planning
can accompany you around the gr
I beg. "I need to get off the compound, just
ed to let you go
to come with me. I'll be fa
't allow that. I'm under strict instructions from your father. Yo
Miguel," I plead. "Pl
this position, but I'm desperate
while... let me
know," I prom
eet, then back up to me. I see his
ur?" he ask
more," I tell
Instead, I give him my most grateful smile and take off in a hurry towards the back o
reak into a run. It feels good to move, to sweat,
it was the last freedom I'd
S
for an hour. True to my word, I mak
ls however, I notice that the house is still lit up. Artificial light f
rch of Miguel. I arrive at his p
ntly, I head into the house and towards to
loor drawing room when
sm
thorns. I think about ignoring him, but years of e
m is ajar. I push it open a
Papa sits outside, his back to me, his face angled up
, Pa
repeats. "Come and si
y have a choice, though. I j
sit down in the chair next to his. T
most definite
is it,
ueezes my fingers for a moment. It's an old gesture, one that
a nice run?" h
before admitting the tru
r liked late nig
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