I shifted in my seat.
“Life is short. Shorter than it should be.” She blinked back more tears. “Felipe has been coming by the house, asking for another chance.”
My throat tightened. I could feel what would happen. It slammed into me, the vision of Felipe with yet another girl, my sister heartbroken again. Her daughter Asha wailing as the father she deserved betrayed their family yet again.
My jaw clenched. “Don’t do it, Kelara.”
Hurt flashed in her eyes. “Why?”
“I… I have a bad feeling.” I should tell her the words—that I had a premonition, that I didn’t justthink, Iknew, but I couldn’t.
Nobody could tell the future. At least, that’s what the Mage Council taught.
And of course, I’d never been able to tell the future. I merely had a feeling.
A feeling that happened to come true.
She looked down at her hands, knotting the soiled kerchief. “But what if he’s changed? It’s been years. A lot can happen in a couple of years.”
I placed my hand atop hers, stilling her fidgeting. “You know what else can happen in a couple of years? Nothing. He already betrayed you once, Kelara. Asha wasn’t even a year old at the time. I don’t want to see you retreat into yourself again. Think of Asha.”
She sniffled. “Iamthinking of Asha. She deserves to get to know her father.”
“She deserves the world. But that man cannot give it to her. You can.”
Kelara refused to meet my eyes. “I’ll think about it, Ly.”
“Please do.” My face tightened. “Please believe me. He wasn’t honest then, and he’s not honest now.”
She gave a faint nod, and I let go of her hand, returning it to my lap. She rose on wobbly feet, stretching her back. Her eyes were puffy, her cheeks blotchy and red.
“I love you,” I told her with the most sappiness I could manage.
Her lips curved upward, ever so slightly. “I love you too.”
The door opened, and one of my roommates, Anna, walked in. Her nose wrinkled at the sight of us. “You’re supposed to ask before having visitors.”
“And you’re supposed to be cleaning the water closet,” I said.Anna huffed and left.
Kelara gave me a look. “I take it the two of you don’t get along.”
“If only everyone were as sweet as you and Asha.” My shoulders sagged. “I have Ella. She cleans the rooms with me. That’s all I need to be happy here.”
Her brow lifted. “And you promise you’re happy? Papa wanted you to be happy, not toiling away at duties that make you miserable.”
My insides turned, though I wasn’t sure why this time. No premonition loomed over me, no insight into what would come to pass. Nevertheless, I cleared my throat against the uneasiness coursing through me. “I am happy. For now.”
Kelara nodded, then grabbed her bags to leave.
“Thanks for dropping by,” I said, rising to give her a hug. “Give Asha and Mama a kiss for me.”
She grinned through tear-stained cheeks. “I always do. See you at home next week.”
She closed the cracked wooden door behind her. I sank onto my simple bed, the straw mattress denting beneath me. Light slipped in through the basement’s windows and danced across the cool, stone floors.
I’m happy,I told myself.
Aren’t I?
