THIRTY-SEVEN

Maybe he didn’t want me here anymore. Ida lay on the bed, thinking. It had been a month since Kai had died, and Elon wasn’t any better.

He acknowledged her presence but hardly spoke a word to her. His dad’s funeral was today, and she had to be strong for them. She could deal with her thoughts later. She had heard Elon when he was preparing to leave for the funeral grounds. He was supposed to be there earlier than everyone.

She had heard a slight knock on the door but pretended to be asleep, so he left. She couldn’t face him yet at that moment. After her simple make-up, Ida slipped into her black self-portrait off-shoulder jersey midi dress.

She secured the fascinator in her hair and then slipped into her 3-inch Loui Vuitton boots and grabbed her black clutch. She looked in the mirror, taking in a deep breath before leaving her room, leaving behind a whiff of her Chanel perfume.

Alyona turned for the umpteenth time, trying to spot Ida in the crowd. She thought she was coming with Elo