Chapter 32: The Distance Between Us
The wind carried a softness that morning as Tiania sat on the wide stone veranda of her grandmother’s estate, nestled in the hilled outskirts of Salen’s Ridge. The gardens below bloomed with violets and jasmine, but their scent did nothing to stir her heart. In the cradle of wealth, comfort, and old-world elegance, Tiania still felt like a ghost in someone else’s dream.
Wrapped in a light cardigan, she stared out at the expanse of green with a cup of tea untouched in her hands. Her grandmother, Viania Thamaris, sat nearby with a knitting project in her lap, but her eyes were on her granddaughter more than the yarn.
“You haven’t said much since you got here,” Viania said gently. “Not even when Edwin told you the new company passed another milestone.”
Tiania blinked slowly. “I’m happy to hear it.” She said, but her eyes stared out on the lawn.
“Are you?” her grandmother asked.
Tiania then forced a smile. “It’s what matters, isn’t it?”
