Chapter 7
Just then, the host of the party called for everyone’s attention and announced a little game.
“Couples, come up and play a piano duet! The best performance wins a set of rare jewelry“:
“That jewelry is so pretty!” Kylie’s eyes lit up. She tugged on Bruno’s sleeve, pouting a little. “Bruno, my birthday’s coming up Can you and Ms. Knotts win it for me?“.
The girls around them burst into laughter. “Kylie, aren’t you being a bit unfair? Ms. Knotts doesn’t even speak German–how could she possibly play the piano? Isn’t that, like, the most basic thing in our circle?“%
“Why don’t you and Bruno do it together?” someone suggested.
Kylie turned to Bruno, her expression hopeful. “Is that okay?
He nodded with a calm, unreadable look. “Sure“%
Kylie shot Lina a smug glance. “Then I’m borrowing Bruno for a bit.”
She hooked her arm through his, and the two of them walked up to the stage. As soon as they started playing, the whole room fell silent
Kylie’s fingers flew across the keys, and Bruno matched her effortlessly. They looked every inch the perfect couple, their chemistry impossible to ignore.
Everyone was in awe. Down below, Lina found herself surrounded by Kylie’s friends.
“Lina, did you see that? Now that’s what a golden couple looks like. You don’t even speak German or play piano match for Bruno? If you know what’s good for you, you’ll just leave.
How could
could you
u ever be a
“I heard you used to live on the west side. Can people even survive in a place like that? No wonder you always look so out of place.”
“A poor girl like you, dreaming of marrying up? Don’t embarrass yourself.”
Their laughter was sharp and cruel, cutting straight through Lina.“!
She gripped the hem of her dress and turned to leave, but someone stuck out a foot, tripping her
She hit the floor hard, pain shooting through her body.”
Before she could even catch her breath, a red stiletto dug into her wrist.
“Oh my.
y, sorry!” The girl feigned surprise, but pressed her heel down harder, grinding it into Lina’s fingers. “Didn’t see you there.”
A sharp crack echoed in Lina’s ears
White–hot pain blurred her vision. Instinctively, she looked up at Bruno, still at the piano.
Her lips parted, but no words came out just a desperate, silent plea
Bruno glanced over. Just once.
Then, as if she was a stranger, he turned away, focusing on the sheet music in front of him, his face unreadable.
Lina bit her lip so hard she tasted blood, refusing to cry #
She remembered three years ago, when she’d cut her finger working a supermarket shift. Bruno had dropped everything, showing up in a panic and dragging her to a clinic, staying up all night just to make sure she’d be okay 8
And now, as her wrist was crushed beneath someone’s heel, he couldn’t even spare her a second look.
Bruno and Kylie exchanged a smile, looking every bit the fairy tale couple.
Then the heel pressed down again. Lina heard the unmistakable snap.
Pain crashed over her in waves. Her vision twisted and went dark. The last thing she heard before the world faded was the end of the plano piece and a round of thunderous applause.X
Lina woke to the sharp, stenle scent of disinfectant
A doctor was quietly explaining things to Bruno. “Mr. Morris, Ms. Knotts‘ wrist has a comminuted fracture. Even after it heals, there will be permanent damage She won’t be able to lift anything heavy again. The pain will keep her up at night for at least a month. She’ll need someone watching over her
Lina’s face went pale
can the
The fried to reach for the water on
bedside table, but the pain in her wrist was so intense she knocked the glass over
The crash of breaking glass inade both the doctor and Bruno tum
The doctor nighed and slipped out. Bruno rushed to pour her a new glass of water, handing it to her |
His brow furrowed, Adam’s apple bobbing as he hesitated. “Tm sorry I was at the piano. I didn’t see you fall. Does it still hurt?”
Lina stared at his face, and all she could see was how gently he’d looked at Kylie on that stage.
Did he really not see? Or did he just not care?!
She closed her eyes, fighting the ache in her chest. Her voice was barely above a whisper, each word forced out: “I want to call the police
Bruno froze. “What?”
“Didn’t you hear what the doctor said?” Lina lifted her arm, the cast heavy and awkward. Her eyes were red, but she refused to cry. “My hand is ruined Shouldn’t someone pay for that?”
Bruno’s face was complicated. “It’s just that you can’t lift heavy things now. Things are different–you have me. You don’t need to do that work anymore“X
He paused. “They’re all Kylie’s friends. If you push this, it’ll make things really awkward for her. Do you have to turn this into a big scene?”
