o_18vdqvms01tdp1ck54q91frg17mg2d.pdf

"No, you don't," he said gently.
"I do."
"You don't have time to hate anyone," he advised, his voice still kind. "Not in our profession.
You should make peace with her."
Lissa had said exactly the same thing. Outrage joined my other emotions. That darkness within
me started to unfurl. "Make peace with her? After she gave me a black eye on purpose! Why
am I the only one who sees how crazy that is?"
"She absolutely did not do it on purpose," he said, voice hard. "No matter how much you resent
her, you have to believe that. She wouldn't do that, and anyway, I saw her later that day. She
was worried about you."
"Probably more worried someone will bring her up on child abuse charges," I grumbled.
"Don't you think this is the time of year for forgiveness?"
I sighed loudly. "This isn't a Christmas special! This is my life. In the real world, miracles and
goodness just don't happen."
He was still eyeing my calmly. "In the real world, you can make your own miracles."
My frustration suddenly hit a breaking point, and I gave up trying to maintain my control. I was
so tired of being told reasonable, practical things whenever something went wrong in my life.
Somewhere in me, I knew Dimitri only wanted to help, but I just wasn't up for the well-meant
words. I wanted comfort for my problems. I didn't want to think about what would make me a
better person. I wished he'd just hold me and tell me not to worry.
"Okay, can you just stop this for once?" I demanded, hands on my hips.
"Stop what?"
"The whole profound Zen crap thing. You don't talk to me like a real person. Everything you
say is just some wise, life-lesson nonsense. You really do sound like a Christmas special." I
knew it wasn't entirely fair to take my anger out on him, but I found myself practically