Beyond the Divorce

Hana looked at her and asked her something in Cirencester's language, which I didn't understand. Anya lowered her gaze. "My home used to be here in Trestlewood."

In that instant, Anya's face darkened. I looked to Hana, who translated their conversation for me.

I gently patted Anya's hand and said, "I'm sorry."

Though Anya shook her head, her emotions seemed affected. She spoke softly and rapidly.

Hana translated swiftly, relaying Anya's words almost as soon as she spoke them.

"She says, 'My family used to live in this city, and my parents ran a small business. My mother sold souvenirs and other items, while my father sold amulets. Though the business was small, we lived comfortably. My father loved us and often took us on outings."" I kept my eyes on Anya's beautiful, innocent face, now tinged with a hint of sorrow.

Anya's recounting seemed somewhat pitiful, and she was completely immersed in her memories. Her ability to recall everything from her childhood made me envious, as she remembered everything vividly, while I couldn't.

met an employer who supplied us with cosmetics to

image of those 'cosmetics' appeared

deceived my adoptive father with the same strategy, and my father turned out to be

a few people. Even around me,

my head lightly, admitting that fate

our family was very grateful to him. Just delivering goods could earn us a lot of money and it was much easier than street peddling." Anya's eyes widened as she looked at me, twirling her fingers

came to my father for goods. One time, my dad got drunk and accidentally broke a bottle of cosmetics, revealing what was inside. "My father was scared, but my mother was greedy. My brother and I didn't

Anya recounted the situation, the scene played out vividly in my

said, 'We can't continue this business. But my mother dragged him to the storage room for a big argument. After they made up, my father resumed deliveries

the more