NORA

A few days pass. My sleep is slowly getting better. The dreams become less vivid, less absurd as well, and sometimes, I don't even remember them when I wake up. The entire feeling that had consumed my body has passed, and I'm beginning to finally get a grip on myself again. It was as if I had been sick in a way last week.

"I'm taking a half day at work," I say to Mrs. Sofia as she sits across from me. "And I was wondering if I could take the car—drive the car to pick up Elena from the station."

"Why? Is Henry causing you any trouble?"

"No, no," I shake my head, perfecting my lie. "I can drive, and well, it's been a while, and I don't think Elena will be comfortable being driven. She's only here till night."

Mrs. Sofia places her spoon down on the plate before dabbing her mouth. She's been busy for the last few days, going out in the evenings and coming back quite late at night, so we barely see each other except in the morning.

She looks up at me, her gaze softening a bit, "Of course. You can use the car today. Henry will give you the keys, and if you two need anything, you can always call him or me."

"Thank you."

Forming a lie is the only way I can do anything around here. I finish up my breakfast and leave the house. Stepping outside, I see the car already waiting, and instead of getting into the back seat, as usual, I see Henry stepping out.

"The keys are inside. Do inform me when you intend to return, Ms. Nora."

"I will," I shove my bag into the passenger seat of the car before getting in the front. "Thank you."

He stands by the edge, hands clasped at his front as he waits for me to drive off from here. Finally. Something that I can control.

Elena isn't coming. She physically can't, considering she is buried in studies, but using her as an excuse is the only way I could have convinced Mrs. Sofia to let me use the car and have the day to myself. I told her about Elena coming to visit me the night after the gathering, and since then, I've been building up to it, appearing excited, and well, I think I'm a really good liar.

I report for work right on time, get onto it quickly, do everything I need to do, and then by afternoon, I'm out of there, waving at Layla and getting inside the car that I've now.

The moment I hit the road is the moment I know that I'm finally free. After nearly a month of being in this town.

The first place that I head to is a small house by the River Trelle, where Mr. Albert had said he's staying for the time being. I have actually known Albert since I was a kid. Practically, he is my godfather. We spent many Christmases together in Glenfell, where he used to come and go. A traveler of sorts. Never really stayed in the same place ever. But he did often visit this town, which I learned when I called him, and now I'm here.

"Nora!" His arms come around me, taking me into a tight hug. "You look better than the last time I saw you." Which was at the funeral.

"Time heals everything, doesn't it?"

"Yes, yes, it does."

His house is buried somewhere deep in town. It barely stands on its own. A one-storey cottage, but the garden behind looks beautiful. I follow behind him before we step inside.

"How are things?" he asks as I take the cup of tea from his hands. "You've been staying with the Marcellis for quite some time now."

"Nearly a month."

"And they haven't driven you crazy, have they?"

"Not yet." Maybe a little. "I'm tempted to go back home every day, but I know that's not what my father would've wanted." And it's not like I can simply leave.

"He wouldn't. You're here for a reason. Have they spoken about it?"

I lean slightly forward, "No. What is it?"

"Oh—"

"Please, Albert, don't hide anything. Just say it."

"It's not my place."

Doesn't seem like it's anyone's.

"I heard you're working at Graham's office." He switches to a different topic, and it's quick.

"Yes. It's been good there. Takes the time away." I set the cup down on the table. "I need you to be honest here with me, Albert. I'm all alone in this, and I need to know what's not being said to me."

"You're not alone."

"I am, at least in this place, this town. I'm all alone."

His face turns into one of hesitation, like most of the faces that I've met. Dr. Graham, Mrs. Sofia, Mr. Marcelli, and now him. They all look like they've something to tell me, but they won't. Like something is stopping them, holding them back. Like there's a bigger force than their will to do it. And it's infuriating.

"Nora, there are things out there that will confuse you in the most unimaginable ways. And if you're told about them before their time, it will only ruin your mind. I'll be honest here, for your peace of mind."

"Please."

"Your father, James, should've been the one to tell you this. Not me. Not any of us."

"Tell me what?"

"What needs to be known."

I sit up, straightening and leaning forward to hear him clearly. My hands rest in my lap, clutched together as if I'm about to get a revelation. "And what's that?"

"Nora, I can't—"

"But you know?"

He pauses, eyes wide, sharp at me. "Yes."

I swallow the lump forming in my throat and narrow my gaze to my cold fingers. The warmth has left my body, entirely. All I now feel is... cold again.

"You need to be patient."

"I am, a lot." I look up. "How can I know what my father wanted to tell me? I don't think he's coming back." There comes the slight twinge of pain in my chest. "Is there a way of knowing? I have his letters back at home and a lot more things."

Albert shakes his head, "They'll not reveal anything."

"Then?" I almost want to spread my arms in the air and yell at this point. "I'm tired of all these secrets, and the longer I'm in this, the worse it's getting. Albert, you can help me. You've always been like family to me—you're family to me."

"Nora, the responsibility didn't fall on me. If it had, I would've told you at the funeral itself."

"Then who does it fall on?" I raise my voice at this point.

In the mere seconds that pass between my question and his answer, I already know who it belongs to.

"Don't say his name."

"Vincenzo."

"Why him?" I snap, "What relation did my father even have with him? He had with the late Marcelli, who has been long dead." He has nothing to do with this, none at all, and I can't believe it is he who's the keeper of whatever secrets I'm meant to know.

Albert sighs deeply, rubbing the space between his eyebrows, looking all too confused by my questions. "Your father was like a brother to Dante and vice versa," The late Marcelli, I'm assuming. "And if your father is gone, and Dante is gone, who else is there to look after you, except for the only son whom Dante Marcelli has left behind? Who has the responsibility of the Marcelli name? Who will protect you as Dante once protected your family? It falls on him. He knows everything, and without his order or approval, no one else can tell you, no matter how close you get to them."

Order? Protected?

"But he won't tell me." I grit my teeth.

"He insists it's not the time."

I lean back and tilt my head a little to Albert. "You've spoken to him?"

"He's not too far from here."

"From here?"

He nods.

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