To Heal in Brooklyn’s Sunlight

Only those of us who had walked its halls knew the truth.

It was a place where you lived a life worse than death.

At dinner, I kept my head down and focused on my plate, silent, avoiding all conversation. I shoveled the food in as if I hadn't eaten in a month.

"Aurelie!"

"Yes, sir!"

Hearing my name, I instinctively dropped my utensils and shot to my feet, the words "Yes, sir!" escaping my lips before I could stop them. The outburst startled not just me, but Caspian and Eleonora as well.

I saw their bewildered expressions, then looked down at my perfectly aligned knife and fork, completely flustered. I’d forgotten I wasn't at the sanatorium. I had no idea why Caspian had called my name.

"You little brat, you scared her," Eleonora said, swatting Caspian before turning to me. "Sweetheart, sit down. Don't be so stiff."

I sat back down obediently, leaving my plate untouched.

"Grandma was talking to you. Didn't you hear her?" Caspian said, his voice laced with annoyance. I couldn't tell if he was annoyed at me for ignoring his grandmother, or at his grandmother for swatting him.

"I'm sorry, Mrs. Hale. I was just so hungry, I wasn't paying attention," I said, my gaze full of guilt as I looked at Eleonora. A counselor's voice echoed in my head: Apologies must be sincere.

But only I knew it was more than just hunger.

It was the fear of being punished for leftovers if I didn't eat fast enough.

I vaguely remembered Mrs. Hale saying something about eating more vegetables, not just the main course. I’d heard her, but my mind hadn't processed it fast enough, and that's why Caspian had snapped my name.

After dinner, a sheen of sweat slicked my forehead—whether from the heat or anxiety, I couldn't say. I declined the offer to stay the night at the Hale residence, determined to return to the old brownstone my grandfather had left me in Carroll Gardens.

"Thank you for the ride back," I said politely, offering a slight bow of gratitude.

"Are you sure you want to live here?" Caspian frowned.

I turned to look at the house behind me. It hadn't been lived in for two years, and the front steps were overgrown with weeds.

I nodded at Caspian.

I had nowhere else to go, no money, and the clothes I was wearing were from two years ago.

The sanatorium had uniforms, so this was the only outfit I had left.

I bent down to pull the weeds, startling the creatures hidden within. They scattered in every direction—cockroaches, rats, and a snake coiled lazily in a corner.

The old me would have screamed and thrown myself into Caspian's arms. Now, I merely glanced at the creatures, already looking for a stick to nudge the snake away.

But Caspian yanked me into the car.

"What's wrong?" I asked, looking at him in confusion, only then realizing he hadn't left.

"Didn't you see the snake?" Caspian demanded, his voice sharp with irritation.

Oh, right. I’d forgotten Caspian was terrified of creatures like that.

"I saw it. It’s fine. I’ll just find a stick and nudge it along. You can head back if you're scared," I said, trying to reassure him.

I opened the car door, ready to get out.

But Caspian locked the doors, the engine roared, and the car shot forward.

Terrified, I scrambled to buckle my seatbelt in the passenger seat.

"Where… where are you taking me?"

Caspian didn't answer.

I didn't ask again.

Caspian took me to his penthouse in SoHo.