was a girl who couldn't ha

ound the examination room, avoiding Elianna's gaze. There were faint,

er touch. It was a subtle stiffening, a flinch she tried to hide

lm, softened even more. "I'm just going to check

other signs, small tears and inflammation that, combined with the br

sional mask. She asked the attending nurse to

sat opposite the girl, creat

you?" Elianna aske

lled in her eyes, spilling down her cheeks. But she shook

so desperate. It was

, drawing from a well of darkness deep inside herself. "It's okay to be scared. But you are

voice a torrent of panicked words. "No! No police! It wasn't his

s my

ruck Elianna

ted with anger and disappointment, years ago. "If you hadn't insisted on those ridiculous piano lesso

ld accusation merged into a single, deaf

ts at her sides, her knuckles whi

done something wrong. She mumbled a hasty apology and practi

stool, her strength gone. She leaned her head again

n't save

ne had been th

bt that the girl was now feeling-it washed over Eli

police. The perpetrator was likely

no teacher.

f physical nausea. He had been a celebrated artist, a guest lecturer at Ju

restroom. She leaned over the sink, dry-heaving, her body convuls

g it on her face again and again, tryi

was the same one from last night, her

m. Not really. After all these ye

nd to be a happy, fulfilled wife. The irony was

rcing the mask of Dr. Lancaster back i

bag. She picked up her phone to check th

uld unlock it. A new me

Adr