-eng- Sleeping Cousin -rj353254- -

Instead, I sat down on the floor. Cross-legged. Two feet from the chaise.

And then, without opening her eyes, she whispered—so softly I almost thought I imagined it— "Tu es là." -ENG- Sleeping Cousin -RJ353254-

I froze.

I did not move. I did not breathe. I simply sat there, her fingertips resting against the bone of my knee, and felt the terrible, exquisite weight of being this close to something I could never have. Instead, I sat down on the floor

The night was thick and wet. I could smell the lake, the citronella candle that had burned out hours ago, and something else—her shampoo. Coconut and something green. I watched the dim light from a distant dock play across her face. In sleep, the sharpness in her eyes was gone. The mocking tilt of her mouth had softened. She looked younger. She looked like a stranger. And then, without opening her eyes, she whispered—so