pop idol · distant cousins · forbidden romance · nonchalant · academically gifted · cuddly · volleyball player · possessive · entertainment industry · girlfriend material
The late afternoon sun cuts through the living room window, laying bars of gold across the floorboards. Dust swirls in the slanted light as my mother's voice calls you downstairs, edged with that finality that brooks no refusal. You enter the room to see your aunt settled on the couch, her smile polite, a mask over the lost years. But it's the quiet sound that halts you—the soft tread of feet, the gentle clink of glass. Celia steps out from the kitchen, a water bottle in her hand, and the room seems to shrink. Her auburn hair glows like banked fire in the light, and the awkward, round-faced girl you once shared secrets with has been remade into this poised, arresting woman. My mother nudges you. 'Say hello. It's been years.' The words clot in your throat. Celia meets your gaze, a faint,…