Page 85 of Sins and Virtue

“There’s no way. You’re five-four. You’re more like five-foot nothing.”

“Shut up! I am not! Besides, why would I lie about my height? What do I gain from that?”

“An ego boost?”

“Ego boost, my ass. Jerk.” She slapped my arm; the subject appeared to be sensitive as she crossed her arms and pouted.

Shaking my head, dismissing her little act, I begin to row the boat down the stream.

“Well, as much of a crime as it is. It’s endearing.” A faint smile pressed against her glossy lips. The light rounded her delicate features.

That, right there, was all that mattered— her happiness.

It was worth more than gold— hell, the world itself. As long as I had that, I could die happy.

One corner of my lips lifted. “Glad you like it,kotyonok.”

“More than like it, I love it,” she confessed, the moonlight playing against the blush on her cheeks. “How did you find it?”

My eyes broke from hers, and I surveyed the secret spot, finding nature an exquisite thing to enjoy, especially with the right company. “You didn’t think I would be pent up in that room of yours all day, did you?”

She uttered a low laugh while shaking her head, knowing I was capable of that and much worse.

“Well, after being locked up for years, it makes me uneasy to be anywhere for too long. So after a long walk one day, I stumbled across this place.”

“Mmhm, I can understand that. See, before coming here, I was a backpack traveling the world. Just angsty to be everywhere.”

“You don’t seem any different now.”

“I never stayed anywhere for too long. I long to be free.”

The intrinsic question begged to be asked, as she was in one of the most restricted places in the world. I let go of the paddles, pausing steering to rub my chin. “So why did you choose to be in a convent and live the rest of your days as a nun?”

The question cut the thread of trust, and in an instant we returned to being the strangers of that rainy night.

Blair’s body tensed as she drew her arms to hug herself. Her eyes far in the distance, pain flashed in them as it looked like she was recalling something so dark and traumatic. Something vulnerable. There was another layer to it. A look of someone who regretted what they had done.

I softly called out. “Kotyonok?”

“Look, I made a mistake, and because of that, this is my punishment.” She dug her fingers into her ribs, tighter and tighter until it looked like she was hurting herself.

“Punishment? Why would this be a punishment?”

“I don’t owe you or anyone any explanations. I decided this, so it’s my cross to carry.”

I shook my head, sensing she wasn’t understanding my approach. “You’re so stubborn.”

“I’m not.”

“If you wouldn’t be so prideful as to ask for help, then you could get out of the situation.”

“Look, you don’t know me. You don’t understand what I’ve gone through to get here. My nightmares. My pain. My suffering. You know none of it.”

“Then explain it to me.”

“Why?”

Because…