CHAPTER 29

IRENE

Her face brightened up when she saw me and my heart couldn't contain itself. I felt a rush of emotion just staring at her face again. Time had done her well. In just five years, my aunt had aged like fine wine. She looked even more beautiful with the wrinkles around the corners of her mouth and her eyes.

"Oh, don't look at me like that," she scoffed as she rose to her feet, staring at me with glassy eyes. "You're the one who looks too good to be true." She spread her arms wide, "Come here, Irene-"

I don't know when I rush into her embrace, wrapping my arms around her so tight like I could merge into her body.

The tears fall and I squeeze my fist to get a hold on myself, shaking from the emotions swirling up inside me.

When we pulled away after a while, I'm surprised to see her cheeks were wet. She touched my face like I'm a dream and I'd vanish by the time she opened her eyes.

"You have no idea how much I've missed you."

I couldn't begin to imagine it. She's raised me like her o