Lyra povI wished I had stayed.Moon goddess, if I had known this was how it would end up, I never would’ve stepped out of that car. Never would’ve let Vincenzo’s cold hands replace Marcello’s fire. Never would’ve believed him when he said I was safer with him.“Why are you doing this to me, Vincenzo?” My voice was shaking, raw like something had clawed its way out of my throat. Tears blurred my vision, but I didn’t wipe them. What was the point?He didn’t answer.Didn’t even look at me.Just sat on the edge of that ratty mattress with a cigarette balanced between his fingers like it was the only thing keeping him alive. He brought it to his lips slowly, took a long drag, and exhaled as if I hadn’t spoken at all. The smoke curled into the air between us, a ghost of silence.“Vincenzo.” I stepped closer. My bare feet scraped against the dusty wooden floor. My voice cracked. “Talk to me.”He turned his head halfway. Not all the way. Never all the way.“Shut up, Lyra,” he muttered, the w
Last Updated : 2025-06-05 Read more