Chapter 105

MARK

Giulia sat on the edge of the bed, her eyes distant and foggy as she absentmindedly twisted a strand of her hair between her fingers. I stood by the doorway with my stomach in knots. For the fifth time that morning, she asked me the same question—one that tore at me every time she repeated it.

"Where are my parents? Why haven’t they come to get me?" Her voice was small, innocent, like a scared little girl.

I swallowed hard and stepped closer, kneeling beside her. "Giulia," I began, trying to keep my voice steady, though the cracks were impossible to hide. "What’s their address? I’ll find them for you. I’ll bring them to you."

Her face lit up with a spark of hope as if I had just handed her a lifeline. She rattled off the address without hesitation. It didn’t sound familiar, but I memorized it anyway. "Seattle," she added, her lips curving into a soft, nostalgic smile. "They live in Seattle."

I stood up with a sigh. Seattle. I hadn’t expected that. We were across the worl