PHOENIX IN PRADA
— NATHALIE —
The house had gone quiet.
Everyone was exhausted. Benjamin sat in his corner already out of theories, his usual restless energy finally stilled for the night. The city lights glimmered in the distance, stretching endlessly beyond the windows. James had been on the other side of the room reading — or at least pretending he was.
I had been sitting across from him for forty minutes trying to find the first word.
"James," I said finally.
He looked up. Put the book down without marking the page. Full attention, immediately, like he had been waiting for exactly this and didn't want to waste a second of it.
"You said whenever I'm ready," I said.
"Yes."
"I'm ready."
He nodded once. Said nothing. Just waited.
So I told him.
* * *
All of it. Every chapter,
