With a heavy sigh, I leaned back against the porcelain tub, the weight of my own uncertainty pressing down on me like a leaden blanket. "If this is madness," I whispered to the empty room, "then why does it feel so... blooming real?"
I let myself sink into the warmth, but it didn’t soothe me. It only made me more aware of how fragile and exposed I was.
For an awful moment, I thought I would have to put my dirty clothes back on, but I spotted a fluffy white robe and slipped into it.
I brushed the tangles from my hair. An image of Donte suddenly filled my mind, ushering a wave of sorrow. I could almost hear his laugh. It felt like a memory trying to reach me through the steam. What would he be thinking now? Was he as afraid as I was? I had nothing to remind me of him beyond the photos in my phone that I knew I'd never see again. Fresh tears blurred my vision, but I stopped myself. If I was going to return home, I had to be strong.
I had to be smarter than whatever this was.
***
I returned to the bedroom to find Seraphina standing by the French doors. She looked at me with a gentle smile and indicated the fresh clothes on the bed. I knew by looking at them that theywould be the perfect fit, and when I hurried back to the bathroom and slipped them on, I was right.
I returned to the main room. Seraphina was still standing by the French doors, looking out at the view before her.
"Would it make you feel better if I told you there was a way to see your family again?" she asked.
She didn’t turn around, and I was relieved by that as I stood there, numb and completely unprepared for her words. I wanted to see my family again, but what if that brought them into this mess? There had to be a condition attached to this.
"If your family was reassured that you were alive and no harm would come to you, would you feel less afraid?
Don't worry, no harm would come to them either. Of that, you have my word," Seraphina said, finally turning to face me.
Her eyes were calm. Too calm. Like she’d already said these one hundred times before. And yet, a trickle of hope.
"And Donte, Could I see him again, too?" I asked hopefully.
Seraphina paused for a moment before shaking her head. The slight movement felt like a sharp stab, a reminder that I was, indeed, a prisoner.
"I must be honest with you, Tilly. Don't set your heart on Donte. You'll learn that he was born for another."
Why did she care about who I loved? Itdidn’tmake sense. What would she gain by trying to steer me away from him?
"That's not possible. I was going to see him this morning. He’ll be frantic with worry by now."
"Trust me, Tilly. Donte isn’t for you."
I stared at her, trying to read past the calm in her voice. She said it like it was fact. Like it had already been decided. "Why would you say that?" My voice cracked.
"How could you know?"
Shedidn’trespond. Instead, she just looked at me, and something about that silence made my chest tighten.Itwasn’tpitynorcruelty. It was certainty. And that was even more unsettling. Certainty meant she knew something that Ididn’t.
"You believe his heart is yours, but it’s not. There’s another he seeks."
She stepped closer, guiding me toward the daybed. I sat down, but I didn’t relax. My body remained tense, still on high alert. I gazed at the floor, but my mind was racing. If this was manipulation, it was skilfully done. If it was the truth, it was devastating. Either way, knowledge was power, and I could see that she was choosing each word with precision.
"Tilly," she said softly, brushing a strand of hair from my cheek. "You think you’ve found love. But it’s fleeting. In the end, you’ll understand.”
Her touch was gentle. Her words weren’t. "In the universe, there’s an order to everything. Don’t dwell on the complexities. It will only drive you mad. Just know this reality has existed since the dawn of time. Everything has its place. Every problem has a solution. This world is only beginning to grasp that truth."
I wanted to laugh and scream. Or run. Instead, I said, "I’ve found my other half in Donte. Isn’t that enough?"
But even as I said it, I felt the fracture. I wasn’t whole. I hadn’t been for a long time. Donte didn’t fix me. He just helped me forget.
Seraphina’s gaze didn’t waver. "I’m glad you see the world’s beauty. And that you want to love. But Donte isn’t your destined one."
She took my hand, her fingers brushing the scars I never showed. "In life, we’re shown kindness. But kindness isn’t love. Don’t mistake the two."
