CURSED FOR LOVE

or

t shattere

wake up! Y

slamming against her ribs, sun

owing the sheets aside. "First d

lashed water on her face, barely reco

r shoulders. Blue-green eyes too bright,

adn't d

reaming. Normally she wakes up late

ngers through her hair, and grabs a p

ys between breaths, at

s in hand, worry etched across her

early," she said, us

t-couldn't," Lio

ence. The city stretched awake around t

ared out t

gaze l

red in the pale sky -

d her chest, sharp eno

fingers digging

it va

other asked, eyes f

a smile. "Yeah.

. "That's normal. N

pa

emember o

groane

quietly. "No parties. No staying

o her. "No boys?

her mother's lips.

with Dad to an

ughed - real an

he tightness in L

es rose ahead - old stone,

inside Lio

pped out

cooler, heavier, as though the world ha

nd, her grip firmer this tim

stif

y, though she didn't m

but the fear beneath it was impossible

roared past them, d

y're in

d to take them. The doctor said they'll help with the delusions. And if the dreams get worse - if anyth

iora whispered, her jaw ti

er's voice cracked slightl

d between them,

tightly, like she was afraid Liora might drift away if she loosened her . "We

as she clutched her mot

If the dreams worsen, you call me. No matter what th

own Liora's c

ra no

's side. She paused before getting in, looking back one

car door and slid in

r slowly pulled away from the curb and merg

disappeared, her hand tighteni

her in clusters, voices e

toward the r

oo

oo

hesitated between stone paths. Ivy clim

she f

ut undeniable - tighte

ra sl

oward the trees bord

ath their branches. N

r pulse

nsettling certainty that

ing woul

ed herself t

ow why this pla

omething here

hostel doors at last

ard, she couldn't put into words - an

. Two beds sat on opposite sides, neatly made. One side was clearly live

er side w

ed that wou

npack despite the exhaustion dragging at her limbs. Getting lost in the hallway

Lo

hoed through

issing. She had tried asking her mother once why she always felt different from

orse. She tried not to draw attention t

too long into the mirror, the blue-green would fade, shifting into

tion never blink

than

ra tu

ar too heavy for her. Dark curls spilled from a messy bun, and she gav

a in open admiration. "You're really beautiful. I thought they'd assi

all laugh. She liked

lly, lowering her voice, "you're really late. Orientation is long gone. I was starti

mitted with a sigh. "Great. The f

I'll catch you up." She smiled and ex

Lio

o finally

nced toward the empty bed. "Window side's y

Liora said

bed and grabbed her phone.

business," Liora replied, slid

napped up. "Wai

"Y

ot Introduction to Ancient Civilizations with you -

used. "You

s like we're stuck analyzing

lips, something inside her chest e

ks lik

ng through her schedule. "You're going t

tly. She had never

usy over her appearance, whispered comparisons, or boys co

Sa

ile and boxes stacked awkwardly around her, she wondere

ora made sure her hoodie was pulled securely over her

e halls, hidden shortcuts between buildings, and pla

won, and they headed

she said. "Don't sit in the front row unless you like being volunteered. Avoi

iled faint

the cafeteria doors, her

u do," she said quietly, "don't go nea

ted her hea

ly. "It's one of the rules. Seniors told

ora

y walked away, the building lo

p down she felt like ther