6: Gian

I COULD hear the happy sound of her laughter and I hadn’t felt relief for a long time until then.

It had been awkward and solemn in the days following that scandalous incident with Shiela, mostly because I had been too guilty and she, I could just imagine, had so many questions to ask but wouldn’t dare do.

I fucked up. That was the truth. And I knew it.

But she hadn’t laughed like that for a while.

I hope it continues this way.

She really liked that red dress and she looked so good in it, too. I knew I was over-reacting. But I didn’t like Elise on something as daring as this cocktail dress. She looked so good. I could just—

Stop.

My mind felt all muddled. I couldn’t be thinking like this.

I didn’t need this. I was already so biased, what with the way I favored her?

Elise had a special place in my heart. She was the little girl I was most fond of when I was a little man in love with the widow Rosamia von Schiller—the very first love of my life.

I was so glad Elise was too young to r