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Christiane wasn’t with him I immediately searched for her

Spotting her as she drifted in the opposite direction, I hesitated aher disappear into the next roo at me as it did more and more the past couple of years

In the days, months, and decade since I’d found out Rika’sfrom her

Failure

At soet one ofa loving, attentive, and responsible grandy to keep up with, and she’d slowly disappear from our lives

Noher in one-word responses, nothing had fazed her, though She was nothing, if not patient

As ti up, an to lose its steaent she ith Octavia— almost all of her clothes by hand, since there really wasn’t any quality period clothing in the style Tavi liked that didn’t look like some cheap costume

She was a yard sales for spare parts he could use for his inventions, and she didn’tforts in every room

She’d been a huge help when Winter was in the hospital giving birth to Octavia, one of Kai’s dogs nearly bit off Ivarsen’s ear and he was only six She stayed in the hospital room with him two floors dohen I had to be with Winter

I didn’t want to s

Butto hate the hurt in her eyes she tried to cover up when I ignored her I didn’t used to care

Soed

I followed her,

Pulling open the white door, I slipped into the next room, a smaller ballrooht own shimmer and her blonde hair—pulled back in a bun—shine

I stood there, pulling the door closed behind me as I watched her

It was like she aiting for so

“You do that a lot” I crossed my arms over my chest “Leave rooms full of people to be alone”

She didn’t turn around, just clasped her hands in front of her

“I do it to give you an opportunity to follow ured you wouldn’t speak to me with others around”

“You think you know me?”