Chapter 19

The garden had an earthy smell to it after the rain. Even if it was just a drizzle, once water from the skies touch the soil, it releases a sweet smell, a calming smell that can keep anybody at peace.

Dahlia sat on the moist garden ground, admiring flowers and inhaling their sweet smell as she lost herself in the warm cocoon of nature's embrace.

Rudolfo came into the garden, a big mango fruit in his hand as he watched his little sister. Whenever he set his eyes on her he felt a pang of sadness and immense guilt. He felt sad for Dahlia because he knew that she will never remain the same, that she had seen the cruelty of this world too early in life. He felt sad for her because she took the death of their brothers the hardest, woke up drenched in sweat and tears and has panic attacks when approached by an adult male that is not him. He felt sad because he knew that the innocent Dahlia had been lost to Christian's cruelty.

Guilt is a dangerous feeling that has a poisonous effect because