44. HAPPINESS IS NOT CRUELTY 2

"No, it isn't. And your family is barbarous for venting their anger on you these past years. You didn't kill your sister and mother. You just happened to be the only one with her when she died, you were young and couldn't do anything to save her. It was not your fault, it wasn't."

"They don't understand that." She placed her head on his chest, sobbing hard. "It hurts that she left very early. Callan, we had plans, we had so much to do together. She even told me about a boy she liked, crazy, right? A seven-year-old liking a boy? She was so full of life—but it ended in a flash…Even before I could control it, she died."

"She's resting well. It's been a whole lot of years, you should move on and live your life to the fullest. You can do the things you planned to do with her now, that way she'd be forever grateful to you." Callan pressed her hand gently, smiling at her.

Orla bought his idea, but she didn't think Isla would ever be happy with her. "She'd never be happy with me. She appears