Love Among Thorns

ael'

ibrary, throwing flickers of gold

night, watching the black sedan parked two

r enough t

re gett

heard the soft crea

- quiet, deliberate, without the jittery fear

Hol

simply, stepping inside and

d, still watching

Rafael," she said af

t, I t

nto the same severe bun she'd worn for decades. Her face, li

d my eyes

n, Angela," I said, voic

folding her hands in front of her. "Broke

in my jaw

en with my family long

housekeeper - she

ld me after my mother died, whispering prayers int

place beside me wit

uttered, dragging a hand thr

er sharpness startled a hu

she's

back out

e now, swallowe

asked quietly, "without be

voice s

en, you fight like hell to make sur

ra's

as if surfacing

the softest lamp - no over

ed, gold

eartbeat, I didn't

to rise - until I

o

ea

nstant noodles and stale crackers I

t, the unfamiliar bed

ly on the night

nk of fresh bread, and a folded pi

embled as I r

e safe

long as

when you

oice i

igna

ehow...

was

l Mor

nd yet, the only one who hadn't tr

yes, blurring the

en since anyone ha

led freedom like bait, only

parents

ys been a myth u

hed the note l

was just an

fool for belie

a meal prepared and no demands pressing aga

like b

y life, it felt like so

a bu

a we

rize to

t..

ward the window, needing to a

when I

redatory - idling just

chi

it

ver ran do

d follo

I forced myself to breathe slow

you here, I r

deep inside,

el had seen

yed by the win

ecti

ut a

t a ba

ng for anyth

ightened aro

taying wasn't such a t