d has a silv

-

the city, a quiet t

n was porcelain white, her blue eyes piercing yet soft, and her long

a still lake, framed by wavy black hair and strong brows. His skin was the same pale hue as hers, but he

embrace, as he'd done countless times sinc

ed tomorrow, " She said, her voice qu

His tone was gentle, knowing ho

way from his arms, crossing the room to settle on a lov

stand behind her,

girl." Her voice quivered, disbelief and frustr

een adopted. Maria clung to him, her only constant, while he was already eighteen, too old to be chosen by a family. The years of rejection had made her tender-hea

ng, Brother.

do?" He chose his words carefully,

till felt foreign to her, despite the time she'd spent here. It was nothing like Paris, where she had grown up, but she was

ng groceries. She didn't seem like she belonged here. She spoke diff

d. "Then I saw her purchas

you'll say I'm being too emotional. But I felt someth

her hair, his favorite feature of he

." Her words, though expecte

hile he was certainly old enough, it wasn't something he ha

g his face. "But you've sacrificed so much for me, Brother. So much that

e, gazing at her as if she were the most preci

he sighed, knowing she had won the

world, Maria. We

an do anything if you

ieve in me that

ng with memories of the times they had struggled together, scrapin

assistant look into it

into a radiant smile. "I love you

he replied, his voice fille

-

ocument seemed to

isa

him on an adventure that would change his life fore

Malis

e:

ht: 1

color:

her details, he froze

it ca

wn s

brow

tly poin

mp l

ividly. The girl fr

ead another word, he

-

do you th