The Burden of Silence

Vivienne’s POV

My decision to not yet tell Nell the truth about Italy wasn’t just about protecting myself from the weight of voicing my suspicions. It was about protecting Nell too. Right now, all I had were suspicions, half-formed pieces that didn’t fit neatly into a picture. I didn’t want to drag her into a storm of doubts without any proof, to place that burden on her shoulders when she already