Chapter 38 Conflicted Desires

• Steam curled in the air as hot water cascaded down her back, each drop striking the curve of her spine like a rhythmic whisper. Eloise stood still beneath the showerhead, arms resting limply at her sides, head tilted slightly forward.
• The warmth should have soothed her, but her mind was far from present. The rest of the visit at the grandmother's house went peacefully, with her avoiding Antonio who barely says a word to her since then. She doesn't know if she should be grateful for that or if she should be wary of him. They had left without meeting his brother, who, to Ruby's expectations, was out of the country, somewhere, partying.
• ‘ Why?’ Eloise muttered under the shower. Thoughts spiraled through her like smoke, restless, uncontainable. She couldn't shake it off. For the first night since she came back in time, she had a peaceful sleep. She knew she had a nightmare that night, but could barely remember what it was, the peaceful feeling afterward had washed away the usual fear and horror she felt each night.