Chapter 36: What Was Left Behind, II
She turned fully when I stepped forward. Her eyes met mine—and this time, she didn't look away. Not right away. Not like a stranger.
"Hello," I said.
Her eyes landed on me, and I felt that some pulled—like a thread had been drawn tight between us.
"Can I help you?" she asked.
I nodded once, then hesitated. "I think so. I'm... Matthias Reiter. I've come from Berlin."
Her posture didn't change, but something behind her gaze shifted.
"I'm looking for someone named Clara Weiss."
She gave a small, cautious smile. "You've found her."
The silence that followed wasn't uncomfortable. It was expectant. Not empty, but full of something unspoken.
I stepped closer. "You don't know me," I said. "But I've seen your name before. I—"
I stopped. There was no way to explain without sounding mad.