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"Are you worried?" I blurt suddenly

Her head turns slowly until she’s facingthe duel About you not getting your tiara back"

She shtly onoff that touch, even though it’sI don’t think I could refuse

"You’re not going to lose," she states "I believe in you"

"The tiara is very valuable" It’s not a question, but I have been wondering its worth for a while Its personal worth

She nods

"Is it ems?"

"Not diamonds, no It does have monetary value, but that’s not why it’s important to me It’s more about sentimental value"

"What’s the sentimental value, then?"

She licks her lips and looks atthat I think she’s not going to answer

After a long sigh, she clears her throat and speaks "I’ve never talked about this to anyone outside my own family, so it’s kind of hard to put into words It’s so rooted in emotion that I’m not sure you’ll understand"

"I’m not a robot, Jenna I have e strand of her bright angel hair around her index finger, then tucks it behind her ear I’esture Not only do I want to draw and paint that ear, I also want to feel that soft lobe in ain

"It’s hard for me just…" She shakes her head and sniffs "When I was little, I didn’t want to come to the US I told you that It was scary, andwithI’d live next to Mickey Mouse, but that isn’t the real reason I agreed to leave"

I frown "It isn’t?"

"I mean, that actually happened, but what truly convinced me was my dad He sat me down and made up this crazy story about hoas a secret princess and the tiara was my crown It’s true that tiara had been passed down in randave it to me on that day--the last day I ever saw him He said he wanted me to be safe, so I had to hide in another country for a while and grow and learn and become educated so that I could come back and beco out of the corners of her eyes, but she’s laughing at the same time I’m completely confused by this Is she happy or sad? OrI believed that story?" She hunched in her seat "Far longer than I care to ad from embarrassment"

"It makes sense" I nodded "When we are little, we especially want to believe everything our parents tell us"

I’ to picture the events as she recounts theine her father, a man in his thirties, perhaps as blond as she is, orher beautiful angel hair and telling her she’ll be a queen someday, but his face is serious and he doesn’t want her to know that he’s afraid

And suddenly I’ift to you?"