There comes a time in a woman’s life when she knows she’s been tricked and utterly deceived.

But why did it have to hurt so much?

Cold hands pressed a frigid cloth to my face. “Don’t cry Lotus. He just…” I glared at her, rage filling me. “Just what? Don’t make excuses for him!” Mitsu-san stared at me solemnly.

I knew I was being immature, hiding in my private room and screaming at people I loved, but that was just what enraged me so. It seemed Tom was always ruining everything, forcing me to bend and sometimes break into pieces, which in turn always sent me into a fake depression that seemed real.

At the time anyway.

Mitsu-chan had apparently sent Hatsumomo back to Japan, and Mamemitsu was leaving soon too. Why was everyone seeming so flighty around me nowadays?

My eyes traveled to the window, decorated beautifully with stains that depicted a wide, deep black rose. But in the center, when I looked closely, right at the center of the rose I saw a little bit of blood red. I smiled. It almost seemed like-

“Lotus.”

I broke away and stared at the door. There stood Evangeline, her eyes red as well. This girl was my blood. And yet, I wanted her to leave. “Yes? What is it?” I hated how cold my voice sounded, and the fact that it also trembled. I saw hurt in her eyes. “I need to talk to y-” she swallowed, “you.”

And for a weird reason, I felt in the pit of my stomach this conversation would change my entire life. I nodded, and Mitsu-san left.

Evangeline sat down.

I waited for her to begin.