Chapter 20

Stellan caught the strange look on Lyra's face and asked, "Ms. Shawcross, are you okay?" However, Lyra didn't answer. She pressed her lips tight, shook her head, and wrung her hands until her knuckles went white. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come—not with Stellan standing there. The more she struggled, the more her body shook. Two years had gone by. She'd thought her selective mutism was gone, only to realize that it was because she hadn't met the one person who could bring it back. Stellan felt a sudden tightness in his chest at the sight. It came back to him then. Celine had been no different two years earlier. She had had selective mutism, too, and reacted in the very same manner in his presence. A realization shot through him, widening his eyes. "You..." His voice trembled as he studied Lyra's face intently, searching for any trace of familiarity. But aside from her vaguely recognizable eyes, nothing aligned. Besides, Celine's vision had been impaired.