Chapter 294

‘Drop it!’ His voice had a stern warning ring—angry, even. Only it wasn’t aimed at her; instead, it was turned onto himself. The past few days had been hell—the past few weeks, in fact. Knowing his family would soon all be together, Elpido’s name would be said again. Like living in a sewer, the filth and grime seeped through the floorboards no matter how much he tried to gloss it over. And now here she stood—understanding in her voice, eyes that seemed to reach inside him—and it would be so, so easy to push aside doubt and convince himself that she actually was different, that here was someone he could tell.

And how he wanted to tell. Only Gilberto’s warning was ringing in his ears like the doomsday bell, and eyes as blue as Maya’s were staring back at him, just as they had that fateful day.

"It shouldn’t be like that, Elmo..."

"How should it be, then?" Elmo fixed her with his glare and tried to warn her off—to get her the hell back—tried to ward her off, tried to keep his head, befor