Kendrick
The morning sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the manor, casting long shadows across the marble floors. I stood silently just outside the doorway of the guest wing, hidden from view, my arms crossed tightly over my chest.
Through the half-open door, I could see her.
Kimberly.
Sitting on the floor with her parents and her sister Clarabelle, her laughter a soft, lilting sound that made something painful and fragile swell in my chest. Her cheeks were flushed with happiness, her hair tousled and shining in the golden morning light.
She was beautiful.
Not the kind of beauty that screamed for attention, but the kind that pulled you in without you even realizing it — steady, calm, and real.
I leaned back against the wall, closing my eyes for a brief moment.
How close
