tough, but i

-

izab

iz

standing there, lost in my thoughts; the n

, someone. Blinking, my sen

ng at the girl beneath me-the

struck like lightning, jolting me back to th

aking me-not violently, but just enough to anchor m

in, harder this time, and

lled down

ollapsed into her arms, and s

her's warmth, until the distant chime of church bel

my house,

, not as

parked a few steps away. I climbed on behind her,

ed one or even had the chance to ride one-one

ngalow, its front yard bursti

she greeted as

ss appeared, her warm eyes

," she remarked, a hint

th a small smile. "Meet my n

widened. "As in Pr

e heard my full name, their reaction was the same. I h

said, stepping i

meet yo

nk y

able, Evie grabbed my hand, dr

s Barbie-pinks and purples everywhere

I teased, glancing at my re

u b

ting on a stand. Without thinking,

ay?" Ev

I lost Eliezer." My voice dropped at the mention of my twin. "S

"You two didn'

Nope. We valued ou

e introverte

ea

t have books of my own, but something about her shelves reminded me of Eliezer. Maybe it was because her

-

of me, her gaze filled with c

hours ago, we were strangers. But then again, she had s

nts got

rom neutral to shocked.

eight of reality hi

apping me in a half-hug. And that-

ay our pain. We just need someone to sit be

do

y mom is a sing

. "But yo

old tightening around me. "My dad aband

hy

sed to-that it felt forced. So, he left. Fo

eyes as her

etimes, just

our si

the oldest, is in Germany. Patricia and Luciana are in Canada. Jo

ll laugh. "That sounds

ckled.

moment before I spoke again. "

but there was somethi

I placed a

finally speaking. "I

ed at the ment

es arou

our school do, so don't be surp

dded. "You w

in, the pause str

ressed, "ju

. "I overheard him

fened.

m why he was

in my throat. "

and I knew, whatever she was a

pure and headstrong. And he

ed into me like

fuck?" I

at each other, eye

tepped into

ly-was it too late

.

u think will ha