Chapter 3 - PREFACE

—- Do you know what I noticed? he asked suddenly. I turned my face towards him —-

—- What did you notice? The boy smiled and took my hand. His fingers caressed my wrist and palm.

He was silent for a moment and stared at my open hand under his.

—-Your hand is small—he raised an eyebrow—

—-All of me is small —- he agreed and laughed under his breath —-

--You're right. But it's not what I noticed. —-

-- And that is? I encouraged him, nudging his side amused. He raised his gaze and moved to leave it on my eyes.

—-Your hand is small, it is the hand of a doll that no one has wanted. —I looked down at my hand —It's a hand that no one wanted to take —I felt my eyes crystallize a little.

I didn't want to cry. I didn't want him to see me cry.

Because there were scars that still hurt

I swallowed hard. "No one has ever held my hand," I whispered sadly. But deep down hurt.

With his thumb he lifted my chin forcing me to look at him.

-- No one? —I denied—- Why?—I looked away.

I dropped my hand and took distance

--Who would want an incomplete and broken doll? —- I passed the back of my hand over my eyes, erasing any trace of tears that wanted to escape.

I heard a sigh next to me and now he was crouching in front of me.

—-I love her —-I looked at him astonished —-I will be the first to take the hand of that broken doll. He entwined his fingers with mine and left a tender kiss on my knuckles.

I couldn't anymore...

I was tired of holding back.

I looked at his hand linked with mine. I looked at his eyes and then at that smile that spread across his face.

And there I knew.

It was going to hurt a lot if that boy let go of my hand from now on.