The Perfect Lie

pte

house stretched out vast and wide, a picture of serenity-too perfect, too still. The

ll of her back. It was a comforting touch, but to Lena, it wa

ks like this," Ethan said,

the phrase had no

f having ever walke

th him as they strolled

uch certainty that she almost

lk. The subdivision was oddly quiet, the houses tucked far back, each one a pristine r

borhood and more like a c

ng happened unless

d the sleeve of her sweater

Ethan observed, his ga

fore responding.

d into a soft

his eyes on her

to be

he whispered. "Me

n't waver. "Anyth

n the façade. But there was nothing. Just the sa

her head.

s. The touch was intimate and tender, but all

for a few minutes bef

, "but you're getting be

t her l

y becoming more aware of

he wasn't

Ethan was kee

ticed something ahead-a figure, a

d, relief f

. Someone ou

n odd tug in her chest. There was someth

and bright

Lena, and for a moment, so

, but the moment was

a polite but distant smile a

" she said, he

a's hand tightened-

he replie

ion asked, but the woman h

s the stranger disappea

was

looked at Le

he edges of her mind-an emotion,

tion. Maybe

eart acc

en that wo

t she couldn't place w

r shoulder m

ha

at her, his e

ay?" he

mile. "Yeah. Just.

r face for a mome

s go

idn't

ached the house,

wom

t l

k in the universe Eth

not going to