us announced we were g

" he said, as if my time at Serenit

t a dress

evening gown of dar

, in a severe, o

eferred st

one who died, the one I resembled

n after my parents died, di

it felt like a costume, an

arcus," I said,

arguing. I'd learne

with polite conversation and th

side, his hand a heavy wei

n across the room, a debuta

breath warm against my ear, "you too could b

od ran

ff, probably to one of his business associates

ht was su

et away, even

said, forcing a small s

wing me as I slipped away