Reverence - Book 2

- 16 -

The universe was dutifully unkind.

Asa Gallo haunted my life. She clung to every eve in my house, those molten gold eyes watching me.

Preying upon me.

I felt shackled to this sofa, unable to creep into the narrow halls of my space. Fear of her leached into my bones, gnawing like a tired hungry dog.

Every muffled closing of a car door, stillness of the evening sun burning out like a hard flickering match. Every sound and silence and whisper of a shadow across the street raised my shoulders, my teeth bared at the unknown.

She was out side my door, in my head.

She was -

There was a sharp wrap on the door and I hissed, flashing out of my cashmere cardigan. I scrambled up, fingers rambling for the wrought iron fire stoker that had been pushed lazily into the cushions.

The knock came again, three knuckles tapping in rapid succession.

"Yelena, ty tupaya shlyukha! Open this door."

My shoulders dropped in tender relief at Yanyah's cutting tone. I discarded the stoker beside the door and opened it, Yanyah bulling through.

"Jesus you look terrible."

She huffed, flopping onto the couch. I flinched as her body hit the cushions.

"I've been a bit under the weather"

I mused, pulling the sweater tightly over my chest.

"Well then I've got good news for you!"

She sat up, patting expectantly beside her. I cautiously crept over, head craned at the window. The street sat silently below me, not even the linger of wind holding attentions.

"You know how my birth-week is coming soon,"

"Uh-huh."

I breathed, sitting beside her.

"And I've been wanting to go somewhere warm."

"Uh-huh?"

Had that car been parked there all day?

"And exotic."

How many times was that jogger going to pass in front of centurion park? Or was it a jogger at all.

I felt the slide of a leather pass book come across my lap, a crisp white boarding pass sticking out invitingly.

"-LFI"

"Italy can you believe it!"

She squealed excitedly. I felt my heart harden and drop into my stomach, a bitter little seed.

Her smile wavered, brow furrowed.

"Why aren't you freaking out?"

"I wouldn't consider Italy exotic Ya."

She rolled her wide eyes.

"But Amalfi is"

The bitter swell of my lead heart twisted with a wicked new sensation. Amalfi was in the least that, but greater in so many more.

"When do we leave?"

I breathed, finally turning from the window.

Her wide, bright smile was comforting.

And suddenly,

The universe was dutifully kind.