Chapter 22. Echoes of Rejection

Ethan's POV

Each word Anastasia speaks makes my heart feel even more drawn to her. Like a siren seducing a sailor with her song across the sea, that's what Anastasia does to me tonight. The gentle night breeze caresses our faces, carrying with it the subtle scent of grass and wildflowers that surround us here on the hilltop. The stars, like small diamonds hanging in the night sky, shine brightly, creating an almost magical atmosphere.

The poem seduces me through Anastasia's beautiful rosy lips. Her emerald green eyes sparkle in my direction like precious jewels, even in the dim light of the moon, but filled with stars in the sky, I can count the freckles Anastasia has on her face, like a small constellation of stars in her own private sky. The sound of cicadas and the gentle murmuring of nearby deer seem to harmonize with Anastasia's voice, creating a symphony that echoes in the silence of the night.

I move closer to her as she recites the poem,