VII

BARAK

. . .

"Tomorrow is your engagement with Mikayla Uriel, the girl you hate to the core. She burns your entire existence but you're ready to let her be your wife."

Through the narrow ways of my eyes that find no interest in the sight before me, I dart my attention to Arad. His arm raises leisurely as to hold the white stick between his fingers and let the gray smoke be released through his mouth. The ashy odor is sick.

"Strange, isn't it?"

"Love is not only blind..."

"It's dumb, deaf and crazy, too."

Humorless laughter spills throughout the silent cabin of mine, caged by the glass walls.

"But here, it's hatred, right?"

"What runs through his mind, I wonder."

"You better not know," I finally chip in, lowering my eyelids to the screen of my phone that burns my eyes.

I scroll down, having nothing else to do and her picture pops in. The one that was sent to me when I was in America. My heart hushes to the soul of mine about her beauty.

"Why? Is it dark or funny?"

"No, it's madness. Daw