*Odette*
“How can you want me, knowing what you know about me?” I ask.
“The ugliness was in him, not you,” Lupo replies. “You are brave and courageous. Even as a child, you carried on when many would have crumbled. What passed between us in your bed had nothing at all to do with him.”
Tears sting my eyes. “I try to convince myself of that, but it’s so hard. I wish I had never seen him again. I can’t get him out of my mind. I think I came here because I wanted the memories with you to be stronger. I need them to wash the ones with him away.”
He takes my other hand, bends his head, and gently begins removing my remaining glove.
“Lupo…”
“I can make you forget him.” He lifts his gaze to mine. “Allow me to do that for you.”
I shake my head slightly. “I don’t know if I can, not now that m
