Whispers Beneath the Cherry Blossoms

ate, but lately, fate woul

ut a source, dreams that felt like memories, and Victor Adu-Fei, the beautiful, golden

utine and dodge the invisible thread she could feel tying them closer each day. But when she stepped into the Literature wing, there

ir eyes met, her brea

o," he said, li

ded, sp

ser. "The handwrit

ched. "It's

d. "It's not

all, the bell tower chimed once, marking the half-hour.

"Do you think someon

ly. "I think someone

a stained glass window no one had cleaned in years. Victor spread out the notes they'd received o

here before.

ll when the past

if he re

last one. "That

. "Whoever's doing

ing her expression. "Wha

"but I've had the dream twice n

stop

aned in.

ssed like a priest. But your

was si

n at his hands, s

softly. "Only... you weren't b

quiet, surrounded by old books, fading light, and the

ver coffee and said: "You're pulling away ag

ling away."

ot sleeping, not eating, and I've seen you sta

her coffee slowly. "What if we we

you talk

barely audible, "...what if there's s

velyn. Are you h

tly. "Forget it. I

her leave,

out loud, but she'

piano keys. Normally, the music calmed him. But tonight, every note sounde

down with a soft

e caught a flicker in th

face. No

ked like h

lips that didn't smile. She looked at him with fury and l

around

oom and the fading ech

came witho

anes. Evelyn sat by her desk, pages of a forgotten essay flutter

blossoms

he floor, dripping

ng, and slammed the window shu

and saw someone sta

or but not

is collar, a gash across his t

h the mirror made no sound, sh

ror sha

n scr

took or how he knew where she lived. All he knew was that he'd seen somethin

l, security had already started

oor, cor

on the door

he's in her room. She locked

r with his shoulder once, twice. The wo

n the middle

eyed, petals

his knees. "Evel

ed: "We did this. You and I. In

didn'

htning laced across the