Chapter 21

• She was a mystery I had vowed not to unravel, yet here I was, wondering about the pieces of her story I hadn’t dared to ask about.
• RUBEN
• Christmas morning was unusually quiet. The chill in the air hinted at the season, but it wasn’t snowy. From outside, I could hear the faint giggles of Arlet and Raya. Their laughter was light, filled with joy, yet the weight in my chest didn’t ease. Raya’s words from the other day, “Let’s erase some wishes,” still haunted me.