Her heart ached. A deep pit at the very center of it began to burn as she held back a whimper.
It made her search deeper, desperately for the truth about why he gave up on her.
Wasn’t he sentenced to stay in school? Renee choked back her pain as if it had a chance to recede.
The image of him she hid from the forefront of her mind came barreling back to her the longer she stayed in Colla’s mirroring tomb. It was safe there. Safe to think. Or not. Safe to wish…
Renee’s wide, hopeful eyes turned to slits as the sting of being pushed away met her once more.
… He didn’t come back to school because of me, she told herself. I’m the problem.
Renee turned to the side, away from those telltale marks in the ground. Those claws showed strength that she didn’t plan on provoking. Besides, w
