Charlotte had thought that Mika would forget their fight.
He was always moody back then, prone to saying harsh words in moments of frustration that he never truly meant.
But the anger never lasted. A few hours of solitude, a good meal, a distraction with his books or his research, and the storm would pass.
He would emerge from his room with his usual calm demeanor, and everything would return to normal.
This time was different.
The first morning after their argument, Charlotte woke up determined to make things right.
She dressed carefully in her favorite outfit, the pink dress with the ruffled sleeves that Mika had once said looked nice on her and practiced her apology in the mirror.
She would tell him she was sorry. She would promise to be more careful. She would hug him and everything would be okay.
She found him in the library, as always, hunched over a massive boom that seemed far too large for someone his age.
