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“I’d still have to live this life, though?”
She offered a sincere smile. “Yes, but you could find bliss.”
Bliss? My short life had felt like a millennium of slavery. I had no idea what ‘bliss’ was.
Reading my mind, Rosa said, “The opposite of what you now know.” She sighed. “What if the bird could’ve lived?”
In a flash, visions of a whole different life played out for me. I had nothing to do with my parents. I was married with children, and had a smile on my face.
Blinking, I asked, “Is this possible?”
“Anything is possible if you are willing to sacrifice for it.”
Sacrifice… “That word sounds so … costly.”
Her brilliance was captivating. “Sacrifice truly is just balance. A gain for a loss. A perfect blend.”
I said, “You are divine, Rosa.”
“Not always.”
That made me feel even closer to her. “Well, when you’re not, we are similar creatures.”
With an insightful knowing, she smiled. “See? Balance.”
Before I could say more, a searing ache began to heat my back.
Her smile faded. “Wonderful moments fading into hard choices. Balance.”
Live or die.
Sacrifices.
“What worth keeping could I sacrifice if I’ve never had anything except my brother?”
Her eyes illuminated while she pondered this. “How can you know the price of losing something you’ve never had.”
“Exactly.”
After a moment of more thought, she asked, “How about one life saved for another taken?”
I cringed. “I get to stay while booting someone from their life?”
“Do you know who is wishing you dead tonight?” she responded.
Of course, I did. The bird story told it all. I wasn’t appreciating the nest he’d offered. So he tried voting me out. When that didn’t work, he resorted to what he knew best.
Murder.
“My father. I’m his VP. And favored by some of the men.”
Her eyes softened as her finger traced my lips, “Maybe they see what I see.”
Even though that felt good to hear, I was still my father’s son and acted accordingly.
“Don’t be fooled by charm and good looks, ” I teased, grimacing as more discomfort sunk into my back. “Shit, that hurt.”
She blew out air with shaky lips. “Would you like to know more about my offer?”
