Fragile Longing

by Cora Reilly

I was an echo of the perfect melody. A shadow of an immaculate image. Always less. Never enough.

On the day of our wedding, Serafina was stolen from me, kidnapped by our cruelest enemy: the Camorra of Las Vegas.

“In many years, you’ll marry him. After you turn eighteen. So, you don’t have to worry about it now.”

“Danilo really wants to marry me when I’m grown up?”

“Of course, he does. Any man would be grateful to have you as his wife. He chose you.” I beamed up at my father.

“I didn’t choose her. I chose you. But you were taken from me, and now I have no choice but to marry your sister even though it’s you I want!”

“People will talk at the party if you show up with blonde hair. About you, about me, about our families. I won’t have it. You’ll get your old color back before the party, understood?”

he was going to kill me slowly, splinter me into millions of pieces of despair and hurt.

“I’m not sure I know who I am anymore. Everything I’ve done these last few years has been to please others.

“Be selfish for once, Sofia. In this world, we women get so few choices, so little freedom. We have to grasp happiness by the collar and drag it with us. We can’t hope for happiness to jump into our lap. Be selfish. You deserve it.”

But I was done finding excuses for his actions, done trying to be what he wanted, what he needed, because so far, he’d done nothing to deserve my kindness or affection.

Love doesn’t work from a distance. You can only love whom you know. Love means work and dedication, but most of all, time.”

“I think I’m falling for you, Sofia. More every day I spend with you.”

I love you. I can’t bear the thought that something might happen to you because I’m not there to protect you. Serafina and Emma got hurt when I was away, and it almost broke me, but with you . . . with you, I don’t think I could actually live with myself. You are my life, Sofia. Don’t ever risk your health or life again.”