Chained In Velvet

til the hou

mpty of footsteps, o

en did

peaceful like freedom-but tight l

proof that this wasn't my life. Or maybe som

emembered. Every floorboard see

ny I'd ever been in. It wasn'

ing in it ha

hose purposes

on the left. My fingers

other.

ot

d the

ope

led like cedarwood a

-hundreds of them. He

the corner, and a single la

light in

a

is one was real. Worn. With nicks i

g neatly on top,

n to touch i

bo

erious for a child. A man stood behind

blance hi

r. Still with that storm

ng when I heard t

't invited

. The frame slipp

Just hit the carp

jacket this time. Shirt sleeves rolled

dn't

her

tence didn't finish. It got lost somew

?" he sa

qu

ed, as

sed the door behind him. The

ere to be cur

now. I just... I thought m

rstan

hed. Sh

erstand the man

inc

save you?" he ask

I whis

en

n't k

s the

dn't

anted to feel

not

the first time, I saw it-something behind the cold. No

e," he sai

ha

to the photo

told me to stop crying or

allo

father?" I as

swer. But I

icked up the frame,

two yea

sor

s voice was fl

le

h

derstand me, Li

n't a

t forget. I don't forgi

ped around me

ded s

as trying to decide what

as suddenl

ouse. You'll stay in yo

without waitin

ehind him like

the photograph still

ce I'd arrived, I felt som

ho

ha

. curi

and

that control... h