ANNA
We continued traversing the long driveway towards the mansion in silence for a few minutes more. Whatever I wanted to ask, I knew I never would. As we reached the highest point of the road that was in level to the house, Alanzo stopped the car, giving me a chance to look from that distance.
He turned to me.
“The Fortress,” he said, introducing his mansion. His eyes told me he felt my changed mood. His smile looked wary. “It’s a big house, Anna. It provided security for me. There was a time that being inside the grounds helped me function. I don’t call it a fortress, though. I call it sanctuary.”
I turned to look at him. In the soft light coming from the house, with darkness all around us, he looked… vulnerable. Younger than he was, almost like a child.
What did you have to go th
