RAVENNA
“Can we continue our talk from last night?”
I asked the question softly, my fingers combing through Riven’s golden curls as we lay on the picnic blanket. The sky was blue, fading into purple at the edges, and the wind carried the smell of pine and wildflowers. We were at a quiet meadow not far from the lake, just the two of us. For a moment, it felt like time had stopped, allowing us to bask in the beauty of serenity.
Riven turned her head to look at me, her eyes blue, bright and curious. She nodded once, slowly, like she’d been waiting for me to say it. I smiled, even though there was a tightness in my chest. Truth is, I wish I had a little more time to hold on to this secret, but the world wasn’t giving me… wasn’t giving us a break.
“Alright,” I breathed out, drawing her clo
