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It didn’tas she wasn’t in that stifling room—and with the responsibilities that came with it

FOUR

Steph

Stepping back out into the hot desert sun, Steph took a deep breath The air had a distinct scent to it, als around her were all rounded at the top, do style, and she probably would have enjoyed it immensely if she weren’t in the middle of a crisis

Casting her eyes doard, Steph began walking She paid enough attention to avoid crashing into other people, but otherwise she was lost in a tangled web of thoughts, trying to puzzle out her life She debated with herself at length about what the best option was She was already in El Farah There was no turning back

She was trapped

She walked and walked, turning doinding streets without noticing what the street nan that ritten in her lish, and she was relish before gaining their independence many years before Then she reer the next day and forgot all about the history of El Farah

After soan to ache When she bothered to look back up, she realized what a ht as to where she was or where she was headed, and as she gazed around, everything looked co about How equitable to her own life was that?

Slu waters and began to cry A single tear dropped fro the pool of water below

“That must be some wish,” a voice said from behind her

Steph turned, craning her neck to entle neatly pressed, his dark hair and eyes perfectly sy

Steph stared with herand closed it “I wasn’tat her eyes

To her surprise, theinto the waters himself