The Ruined Bride of Velvet Nights by Brick Moving Ant

Chapter 4

Someone immediately burst into laughter.

“Does she look like the type?

“Come on, Africa? She probably rarely even leaves her province!”

Even Jackson smirked faintly, shaking his head in disdain.

Sara squinted her eyes, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.

“Exactly, I asked the wrong person!

“I should’ve asked her which local market sells the cheapest vegetables or which brand of toilet cleaner works best!”

The table erupted in laughter again.

She, smug as ever, turned away and launched into another topic.

I slowly clenched my fists.

Something inside me was burning.

I thought, I must be drunk.

Otherwise, why would such a childish provocation anger me?

“I’ve been there.”

My voice was calm but firm, cutting through the noise at the table.

The laughter stopped abruptly.

Sara turned her head, momentarily stunned, before sneering, “What?”

“I’ve been to Africa.”

Chapter 4

face, but she quickly regained her composure, her tone

you haven’t been, just say so! Lying will only

trouble.”

“I’m not lying.”

up. “Then tell us, where exactly did you go?

Morocco? Or perhaps South Africa?”

at her steadily, my voice

The air froze.

doubt thick

much to drink,” another laughed,

me flared even

one there–there were many

peacekeepers, aid workers…

not “normal people”

gaze across the table, speaking slowly and

have I been there, but I lived there for

visited Ebola treatment

was even

over the table.

eyes widened, staring at me in

09:22

Chapter 4

glass, fixing my gaze on Sara

“One more thing.

prefer tropical waters. The Camino de Santiago doesn’t start

since

my eyes, lips curling into a faint smile:

lying isn’t good. It’s so easy to get

turned ghostly

glances, their gazes darting between us.

to her feet, her

parentless nobody–how could she have been to