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In the last rays of the sun, Baba suddenly looks old ‘If what you say is true you must prepare for bloodshed His or your father’s’

Twenty-six

Tasha Evanoff

Why Does My Heart Feel So Bad?

papa has come back home It is incredible how quickly the time passed When I kissed his cheeks and welcomed him back I felt a tremor of fear inside me

Even now, as I stand outside his study, I am not ready to face him, but I will never be ready Childishly, I wish I could turn back the clock even one day, but I cannot put off what has to be said My hands shake as I take a deep breath to steel ently on his door

‘Who is it?’ he asks

‘Tasha’

‘Come in’

I let my hand drop to the door handle, turn it, and step into the room My father is at his desk, his head bowed over solasses on He does not speak, just beckons me forwards with an open palh my body, and stand in front of him

His dark, dead eyes peer over the rilasses ‘Sit’

‘I prefer to stand, Papa’ My voice shakes My father is a very intiPapa slulasses, and lays them on the table

‘What do you want, Tasha?’ His voice is totally expressionless and his face stony I iht He is ready forforto say