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My parents were happy, chasing their stars

A lump rose in his throat Not everyone was so lucky Not everyone could—

“You are a fool, Stavi”

The words, spoken in Greek, werein the doorway

“She chose to go I could not stop her,” he replied in the sae The elderly Greek woman shook her head

“She loves you The last thing she wanted was to go”

“Her quick departure proves otherwise,” he said flatly He looked out theat the gray ray city He knew the stars existed above the clouds, even now But he couldn’t see them Just like his wife and child

He wondered if his private jet had landed yet If the sky in Switzerland right noas bright and blue above the sparkling Alpine snow He i cocoa He saw Holly, so beautiful and loving and wars on the hearth of the old cabin’s stone fireplace She believed in love She probably believed in Santa, too

“Oh, Stavi” Eleni sighed, ue “Why did you not just tell her the truth?”

Anger went through him

“I did,” he growled “I can never love her”

The older woain

“Men,” she chided, shaking her head slightly “The truth is, you already do”

Stavros stared at her

“Love Holly?” Ridiculous He wouldn’t love anyone Love was a tragedy that made victims out of at least one, if not two people He scoffed rudely, “You’re out of your mind, old woman”