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“How lovely.” The sarcasm in Mireille’s voice cuts into the room. Uncle lets go of my hand and I step back. “Are you sure I’m not interrupting anything?”
I shake my head, and go back to the table. I can feel her glaring at me.
“It’s been a stressful time for us all.” Uncle clears his throat and motions for Mireille to have a seat. “Don’t you agree?”
She sits and silently looks at him. As I watch them stare each other down, I feel more fear as I see the defiance grow in her face. The conversation with Uncle rings in my ears. How do we protect her from herself…
“Maybe we should call again for breakfast.” I venture out, trying to break the tension. I hear commotion in the living room and breathe a sigh of relief. Henry rolls the cart in, and silently sets out the morning spread for us. Out of the corner of my eye, I see Mireille looking at the cart.
“Expecting something besides breakfast?” Uncle asks my question out loud.
“No.” her reply is terse. “Let’s eat.”

“Try not to make a scene when we visit Frere Mueller this morning.” Mireille pulls on her boots. “That was embarrassing yesterday to be told to leave like that.”
“I’m sorry.” I stand by the bedroom door, watching her. She stamps her boot down on the floor, gives a final tug and then stands up.
“Finished. Let’s go.” she reaches for her purse on the nightstand.
“Mireille- can I see the telegram?” I ask softly. I see her shoulders stiffen and she clenches her purse in her hand.
“Why, so you can tell him about it?” she turns around so quickly that I step back. She shoves the purse into my chest, backing me into the wall by the door.
“Mireille!” I gasp out, shocked by her behavior.
“Isn’t that what this is about? You’re not asking because you care about me- it’s because Soldats wants you to spy on me!” her voice is harsh. “Admit it!”
My mouth is open as I stare back at her. She leans in closer, her eyes burning into mine.
“Soldats is the cause of all our pain- how can you protect them? My whole family- even my uncle, my real uncle, not some spy pretending to care about me- are gone! Gone, Kirika!” she pushes the purse so hard into my chest that the clasp jabs into my skin, causing me to wince.
“It hurts, doesn’t it?” she drops her arms and steps back, composing herself. She looks over to the wall where I’ve taped the picture of the nightmare room. “They’ve hurt…both of us.”
I look at the picture, and feel the tight fear well up in my chest. Something terrible…
“You’re afraid. I see it in your face.” She says quietly, interrupting my thought. “I’ve never seen you afraid before, Kirika.”
I turn my head to look at her and we stare at each other.
“Don’t you want this nightmare to end? Haven’t we all suffered enough?” she puts her hands on my shoulders, her grip matching her intense look.
“I do.” I’m so tired I could cry. I do want it all to be over, to just go back home.
“Then you need to decide just whose side you are on. Mine- or theirs.”