Friendship was fickle.
Severine had always known that. Most childhood friendships faded with time, often lost in the transition to adulthood.
Certain things lost their charm as one grew up—or so Alina had once babbled.
But for Severine, the reason for growing distant was different.
It wasn't changing tastes or the burden of responsibilities. It was something far uglier.
Human avarice.
And the person who awakened her to that truth was none other than Anfisa Rafael.
Anfisa, her brother Andrei, and Severine had grown up together at the same school.
Back then, Severine had believed she had two best friends—something that added a little color to her otherwise dull life.
Slowly, as they grew up and entered middle school, Andrei shifted his focus to other male students—a fairly normal response.
Thus, Anfisa alone clung to Severine.
"Severine, I like your bracelet so much," young Anfisa pouted, her big eyes blinking innocently. "It's so pretty."
