Chapter 10

• My chest tightened as my brain started replaying everything that had happened. I took a deep breath, trying not to show how affected I was, made a face, shook my head, and my mom frowned while taking my hand.
• "I thought everything was going well when he came looking for you a few months ago "she commented, sending a shiver down my spine as I looked at her, asking for an explanation". He came around mid"March looking for you, right, Cary? I left this for you.
• She rummaged in the drawer of the small bookshelf in the living room and pulled out a sealed letter to give to me. I took it with a trembling hand, folded it in half, and put it in the pocket of my sweater, gaining a few seconds to compose myself. I said goodbye to Cary, hugged my mom, gave her a kiss on the cheek, promising to come back for Christmas, and returned to the hotel, unable to ignore the burning letter through the fabric. When I arrived at the hotel, I rushed to the room to change into a dark blue dress, black stockings, and heels, deciding to leave my hair loose as I grabbed my laptop bag and went out, finding Larch outside looking at me for a few seconds before nodding.