THE RETURN OF THE FORGOTTEN

RA'S

. Maria and Luca are already waiting for me by the door, looking as relaxed as always. We move throu

my thoughts drifting back to that one person

ot behind the stage in the drama studio, I feel th

I keep thinking a

be there, that I'd never have to feel alone. But when I needed her the most

le

ll hurts, even if I

adoptive parents, as if they were hers to keep. And when she left, she took that love with

d with a roof over my head. But I don't know why, because I didn't feel lik

ed the door to her house, I couldn't bring myself to do it. Because, somehow

tment, trying to shake it off. Mari

asks, her voice l

hearted smile. "Ye

rning to Luca, who's too busy messi

mind still swirling with thoughts of Amalia. What's wrong w

n us. Maybe it's better if we just stay apart. A

☆

myself with random thoughts. The hum of the engine and the distant chatter of students walking home fade in the

ng at her phone every few seconds. I'm used to her bubbly, confident personality, so this

a punch to the

ing to Los

't hear her right. "What

ious. "Dad got a great job opportunity. It's a big

refuses to believe it. The world around me blurs, my s

ice barely a whisper. "

t want to tell you like this. I didn't know how to say

t my throat tightens, my eyes burn, and be

uca, they've been there for me. Through everything. The three of us have been inse

he seat next to me. He looks between us, f

u, huh?" he says softl

h emotion. "I didn't even g

nd me. Maria hugs me tightly, her cheek pressed against mine. Luca squeezes in f

cking. "I didn't want this to hurt you. But we're

sual. "You're not alone, okay? You'll a

rld is breaking apart around me. How am I supposed to let them go

t the best night of our lives, Aurora. No sad stuff, okay? We've got time lef

rying to take in her words. I nod, swallowing down the lump in my

ng these last few days with them. Because no matter what happens after Saturday, I

☆

he living room as I close the door behind me. My footsteps falter as I catch sight of Amalia, her back to

here I stand. They're towering over her, their voices low but harsh. The man at the front

it," she says, sounding

ull of anger, and before I can even process what

fu

y eyes are locked on the scene, but it's like my body isn't list

em to faze her. She's not backing down, not showing fear. It's terri

says something-quiet but firm-and within moments, t

ess everything. What did she just say to make th

berate, mechanical. She leans against the door, sliding down until she's sitting on the floor, knees pulled to her chest.

es away from her. I feel something stir inside me, something that's almost guilt,

expression hardening again. She walks upstairs without sparing me a glance. I wa

nning-maybe it's instinct, or maybe I'm just scared. But I don't want her to kn

I don't know what the hell just happened, but I can't shake t

IA'S

mly lit, the faint hum of an overhead fan filli

silence as I sit cross-legged on the couch. Eliana is pacing, her brow furrowed, and Sebastian is s

knew where I lived, and had the audacity to point a gun at me in my house."

" Eliana asks, fi

hrough every database I have access to. Nothing screams Russian mafia or Perun ass

what? A bunch of random nobodies show up to thre

other me. "Maybe they're just idiots

don't bel

the conversation shifts, as it alway

up. "I'm making tacos, and you're bot

l is my default setting wh

al. "Do you even know how to m

the kitchen. "Keep talkin

t feels normal-like none of us are carryin

. The familiar rhythm of it helps drown out the mess in my head. By the tim

ically bouncing with excitement. "You're t

ext, but he pauses before d

aking them," I lie sm

see the wheels turning in his head.

an about his terrible music taste, Sebastian firing back with his usual sarcasti

t me, his blue eyes full of that knowing look t

, I know I can't avoid the conversation forever. Sebastian

☆

I glance over at Sebastian, who's focused on the road, one hand on the steering wheel, the other drumming abse

e, I grab my bag from the back seat and follow him insi

the jeans and hoodie from earlier. As I rummage through his dresser, the f

, his voice so

ot to notice the shif

ally against the doorframe, but his

wing where this is

didn't eat earlier, and you haven't been

o hard, my shoulders tense. "I

His voice is calm but firm, like

side of my cheek. "Four d

ad, he crosses the room and sits on the edge of the bed, looking

" he asks

isper. "Every time I try, I think... what if someone tampered with it? Ev

one's trying to poison you. And even if they were, you'd taste it f

laugh, and his lips tw

ontinues. "But you can't keep starving yoursel

ars threaten to spill. "I don't know ho

f the room. My heart sinks, thinking I've annoyed him, but then he c

takes a big bite, chewing and swallowing befor

t's more out of habit

off, holding out th

the quiet patience, the stubborn determination-makes it impossible

then another. Before I know it, I've finished t

an arm around my shoulders and pulling me into his chest. "See?

ears keep coming. I don't deserve this-his patience, his kind

me as he pulls me closer. The warmth of his body, the steady rise and fa

re with you," he murmurs, his voi

an

, am

ove

you to

ime in weeks, I fin