Page 106 of Milo

"I had it dipped in white gold," Milo explains as I twirl the locket in my fingers.

"What?!" I spin around.

"This necklace seemed very important to you, Kiara. I wanted you to be able to wear it."

"When did you?—"

"Weeks ago.”

My eyes gloss over as I clutch the locket in my fist, my grandmother's positive energy coursing through my veins. She's here. With me.

"I can't believe you did this. You—" I bite the inside of my cheek. "This is the last piece of jewelry I have from my grandmother, I had to sell everything else when she died. Milo—" Tears roll down my face. "Thank you."

He frowns, wiping away the influx of joyful tears. "You had to sell everything? I do not understand."

"When my nana died, I got a letter in the mail," I explain, swallowing back the memories. "Apparently, we were living off credit. I didn't know. She told me we were fine, that we had money, but I guess she lied or she forgot, I don't know." I expel a shaky breath. "Her mental health had been deteriorating for years, it got even worse after my grandpa passed away. I wish she told me, she said everything was fine."

Milo pulls me into his arms, resting his chin on top of my head as he consoles me. "Perhaps she did not want to trouble you, Kiara. She did not want to make you worry."

"Probably," I sniffle, nuzzling my head into his chest. "Sounds like Nana Anne."

"Do you have any more debt?" he whispers, stroking my hair. "I will pay it all."

"No." I shake my head, stifling back aching sobs. "I paid it off by selling off most of her belongings. She had a lot of vintage collections. They meant a lot to her, and I sold them. I—I sold everything."

"I'm so sorry, tesoro," Milo hums, his voice raw, gruff, full of empathy. "That must have been very difficult."

"It was.” An unfathomable longing tugs at my heart. "God, I miss her."

He rocks me back and forth. "It will get easier. It takes time, but it will get easier, I promise you."

"Yeah?" I pull back, wiping my nose on my sleeve. "How much time?"

He tucks a damp hair behind my ear as his soft eyes dance across my face. "The pain will never go away, Kiara, but you will learn to live with it. And in time, that pain will be a blessing, not a burden. It will make you stronger." I hiccup as he continues, "When a bone is broken, the place in which it heals becomes the strongest part."

"Is that why you're so strong?" I whisper. "Because you've been broken?"

"We are all broken, tesoro. Every single person. But some people ignore the pain and never heal. You must acknowledge your wounds, for they are a part of you. Forever."

"I get that—" I nod my head, taking in his wise words. "But sometimes it's easier to ignore the pain than address it."

"I know. But we must try, otherwise, we die long before we are dead."

"Wow." I sniffle, giving him a small smile. "My dad would've really liked you."

"He would?" Milo perks a brow. "Why?"

I shake my head, letting out a soft chuckle. "He was also an optimist."

"Can you please relay that message to my sister?" Milo laughs, kissing my forehead. "She is convinced I am full of negative energy. She once bought sage to cleanse my aura."

I stifle a snort. "I think an exorcism would be more fruitful."

"Is that so?" Milo casts me a playful grin. "Do you believe I am possessed?"

"Only sometimes."

"Fair…” Milo purses his lips. "I suppose life is all about balance, no?"

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