LOGINI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
Hours pass, and when I finally step back to look at what I’ve created, I’m startled by the image staring back at me.It’s me, or a version of me, standing alone on a dark stage. My head is in my hands, and I’ve painted dozens of tiny eyes, watching, judging me from the shadows. Each set of eyes is p
IrisWithin a matter of days, my approval ratings have dropped another twelve points, according to the morning news.“It’s been less than six months since her debut as Alpha President Arthur’s Luna and she’s already nearing the forties,” the commentator, a blonde woman wearing a stark white pencil d
We stay like that for a while, tangled together on the couch, skin cooling in the night air. Iris doesn’t speak, although her occasional sniffle gives away the fact that she’s still upset, which she has every right to be. But each little sound and whimper breaks my heart even more.Eventually, I sco
ArthurMy heart is breaking piece by piece as I take Iris into my arms, kissing her deeply and holding her tightly against me. At first, she tries to push away, but her attempt is feeble and I refuse to let go anyway.I need her to understand that she’s the only one I want, the only one I’ve ever tr







