Levina knocked on the door of a house that was finally beginning to feel like home after years of estrangement. Moments later, the door was pulled open and Augustus filled the space where the door once stood.
For the first time ever, Levina threw herself into the waiting arms of her father and sobbed. Augustus brushed her head softly with his fingers while softly hushing, like a baby deprived of its mother's breasts. She wasn't sure how long she had stayed like that, but when she finally broke free, all she wanted to do was return to her father's safe embrace.
"Who are you?" Augustus asked, finally noticing the chubby woman who stood quietly behind Levina, watching the drama unfold.
"Sorry," Levina apologized. "I completely forgot. Father, this is Marie, my..." she wanted to say friend, but the thought that Marie could possibly be the one who stabbed Lucien caught the word in her throat. "She is like me," she said instead.
