ging her reflection until it was nothing but a shapeless blur. Maria lay in the oversized bathtub, hot water lapping over her should

'd spent the night trapped beneath him, tangled in sheets and words she didn't understand. And now she couldn't escape the gho

uld lie low, keep her head down, and stay out of trouble. But curiosity burned in her veins. She couldn't stop thinking about that journa

f. But the moment she stepped out of the tub, dried her skin, and

ome sprawled around her: a two-story fortress of glass and steel, with panoramic views of the city glitter

One push, and she'd cross a line she couldn't uncro

lined the walls, books neatly arranged, paperweights glinting under soft golden lights. The massive

x was tucked between hardbound volumes of finance and art history. She hesitated

the edges, its pages tinged with tim

-

12,

being overweight from years of medication, how his expensive clothes made him a target for bullies at s

him, fists and feet crashing into his sides. Bloodied and helpless, he waited for the beating to end - until a bucket of f

mped down from a wall, grabbed Henry's hand, and yanked him from the chaos. She didn't explain her

atched her from afar for months, too terrified to confess his feelings. She became a bright

-

r laughter echoing across the field, the day she threw her shoe at a boy who mocked H

er school. Henry's family had discovered the bullying and shipped him abroad within days. T

iss

w haircut Mother

she's

to read every line, so she flipped to the last page

t? I saw

questions pounded in her mind.

early dropping the diary. She looked up, blinking against t

-

leeves were rolled up, his forearms tense. His gaze fell straight on the d

nic clawed at her throat. "If you want to punish me, just do it!"

Then, slowly, he stepped forward, each stride del

eezed her eyes shut, bracing for his wrath.

d Henry kneeling before her, his expression unreadable, his hand cupping

p to?" he asked quiet

I-I read... to where you

something sad and searching. "Do you remember anything?" he asked,

ember? Her heart stumbled. "R

s. "Did the journal bring anything back?" His voice cracked al

g. "Bring what back?" she echoed, voice tre

that made her chest ache. He stood suddenly, towering over her. The

e turned away, voice like ice. "

-

the hallway. The soft click of his bedroom door cl

he slumped onto the bed, thoughts whirling. Did he hate her that much? Was it beca

y. Then her eyes fell on the small table by the bed. Her favorite dessert

t been before or after he saw her reading his diary?

y. No, Maria. Pull yourself together. You got what

er when she first arrived. Before leaving, she paused at the door, looking back a

, taking her away from the man who had upended her life, leaving behind