The Luna Choosing Game

When I awoke, I was surprised to find myself in my own bed, while the physician tended to Elva beside

1. me.

I looked around the room, but Nicholas was gone. I wondered how long he stayed. Likely not for very

long. He did dislike me, after all.

Still, he had been kind to stay at all, even with all the layers of hurt between us. He had been kind to me

last night, and I would not soon forget it.

I rose and dressed, and by the time I was done, the physician was ready to talk to me.

“She should have a full recovery. She will need to rest for a day or so. Her body is fatigued from fighting

off her illness so hard.”

I thanked her, though my relief did not fully squash my guilt. Elva had only been in danger at all because

of my inability to protect her. If I had stayed away from her until I was absolutely certain I was healed, she

might never have gotten sick.

The thoughts plagued me even after the physician exited the room. No sooner had she gone than Mark

entered.

“All of the girls are being summoned into the parlor room,” he said.

I knew, with the distinct lack of pitter–patter of rain against the window, that it was not storming outside.

failure. But at least Elva

in

you stay with Elva?” I

“Yes.”

I nodded. “Thank you.”

left the room and made my way down to the parlor, where most of the

were already waiting. They whispered as I entered, and I heard echoes of the

it, it seemed, had already spread through

at the far side of the room.

nearest a microphone.

was alone where I stood. No one would talk to me. At least, not until Susie arrived. She rushed

a concern

what had happened, but how she is better now, Susie

heard,” Susie

I agreed.

into the

of the girls turned

planned for today has been postponed. A bet had

dependent on inclement

not raining,” a girl from

twisted into a knot. Since I had lost the bet, at the very

one managed to do

out of

Piper has still won the deal

predicted that tonight we will experience a

moon.”

the room. One of