They had an ordinary life, full of ordinary things-if love can ever be called that.

When evening fell the boy would bring the girl a glass of tea, a slice of lemon cake, an apple blossom floating in a blue cup. He would kiss her neck and whisper new names in her ear: beauty, beloved, cherished, my heart.

They are orphans again, with no true home but each other and whatever life they can make together on the other side of the sea.

I don't care if you danced naked on the roof of the Little Palace with him. I love you, Alina, even the part of you that loved him.

The moment our lips met, I knew with pure and piercing certainty that I would have waited for him forever.

Stay,” she panted. Tears leaked from her eyes. “Stay till the end.”
“And after,” he said. “And always.