Before Elio could finish his sentence, Samara’s voice interrupted:

“Elio, it hurts.”

Those few words wiped all trace of regret from Elio’s face. He frowned at me, signaling that I should leave immediately.

But this is my home too—where else am I supposed to go?

The sorrow in my heart overshadowed the sting on my face.

I packed my things, intending to spend the night in a hotel, hoping that perhaps this was all just a bad dream that a good night’s sleep could erase.

I received news that a heart matching mine had been found. It was the only piece of good news in these days, and it seemed...