Read Online The Life of Anna, Part 5: Emerged by Marissa Honeycutt - Free Book Online Page B

she
dropped her bag on the ground.
    Anna looked up into his concerned eyes. “My
best friend was killed.”
    His eyes widened. “Oh my God, Katrina. I’m so
sorry.” He looked around. “Why are you here? You should go home
and...I don’t know...pack to go back to the funeral?”
    Anna shook her head. “I can’t go.”
    Hugo stared at her and then he exhaled. “Does
it have something to do with that relationship you don’t want to
talk about?”
    Anna nodded. She squeezed her eyes shut and
grasped the
barre
tightly, trying to maintain control of
her emotions. Her heart hurt and she didn’t know what to do.
    “C’mon,” Hugo said, putting his arm around
her and leading her out of the studio. He paused by the door to
tell Vincent what happened, and then led Anna into his office. He
sat her down on a leather couch along the side wall and put his
arms around her.
    His caring warmed her heart and she leaned
her head against his chest as he stroked her arm. “You could have
called me last night,” he said softly, leaning his cheek against
her head. “I would have come back over.”
    “I didn’t want to bother you. You looked
kinda upset when Aaron said he needed to talk to me.”
    “He had interrupted a really nice kiss. I was
a little irritated with him.”
    Anna couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.
“It was a nice kiss,” she agreed.
    “I feel bad now, though. Did he know
her?”
    Anna nodded. “She was like a sister to him.”
She leaned her head against his chest. “Have you ever lost anyone?”
she asked softly.
    “Yes. My father died when I was fifteen.
That’s when my mother and I moved here.”
    “How did you...get over it?”
    He chuckled. “I don't know if I ever ‘got
over it.’ I still miss him. I loved my father dearly. He was a good
man.”
    “How did he die?”
    “Cancer. Mercifully, it went quickly, but it
still was very difficult, watching him die.”
    “You got to say goodbye, though, right?”
    “Yes. My mother and I were there when he
died.”
    “I’ve never gotten to say goodbye to anyone,”
Anna said softly.
    “You say that as if you have lost many
people, Katrina.”
    She had lost quite a few people in her life.
Her parents, Ben, Alex and his men, hers and Wilhelm’s baby, and
now Jenna. “A few.”
    “Are your parents alive?”
    “No. They died when I was twelve.” Devin
killed them. She had almost forgotten that he had admitted to
it.
    “How did they die?”
    “A car accident.”
    “I’m so sorry. I can’t imagine the grief you
must have felt to lose both of them at once.”
    “I don’t really remember it.” Devin and Jack
had started touching her afterwards, dulling the pain. Had she
actually
ever
mourned for anyone? Mourned like normal
people? Probably not. She wasn’t exactly normal. She used sex to
distract herself from the pain. She looked up at Hugo with wet
eyes. “How do you mourn?”
    He stroked her hair and gave her a sad smile.
“It’s different for everyone, Anna. How did you deal with your
husband dying?”
    She flushed. “I was doped up for two
years.”
    “Oh.” He gave her a gentle smile. “I wouldn’t
recommend that.”
    “I don’t want to.”
    “Good,” he smiled. “I’d hate to see you on
drugs. You wouldn’t be able to dance and I wouldn’t have you for my
premier.”
    She gave him a half smile. “I wouldn’t want
to let you down.”
    “I can’t imagine you doing such a thing.”
    They sat quietly together for several long
minutes. His presence was comforting and she slowly relaxed into
his arms.
    “Do you want to go home?” he asked softly.
“Vincent would understand.”
    Anna shook her head. “Dancing...dancing
helps. Helps me feel better.”
    He nodded. “I could see that about you.” He
stood and helped her to her feet and then hugged her tight. “I’m
here for you if you need anything.”
    “Thanks, Hugo,” she said softly.
    They went back to the studio. Class had just
started a few minutes prior