Nina had a way of dealing with grief and disappointments, and the best of all was what she was doing now,

going to a masquerade ball to unleash all the

wildness she had in her, even in front of whoever was going to be her potential client

without any cause for regret. Slowly, she marched in, smiling in her mask, and shy, as if she was yet to get used to it.

As if everyone she saw knew her, the mask pressed her nose, such that a listener would

have to strain their ears to hear her speak.

She loved it so, as it was also one good way to disguise,

in case she met someone who could have recognized her by voice. Thank you. She managed to whisper

with a smile to the lady who offered her a glass of champagne. She nodded and sipped the drink. It felt good.

It made her feel great. Already she was escaping all of her ordeals, and she couldn't wait to be fully

enraptured by her escapism. She wanted it so bad, and she wouldn't reserve any bit of her. She'd put all in ensuring

that she had the fun that she felt she deserved tonight. Music seeped into the room, slowly,

like water, and people too locked hands for a dance.

Nina wondered what she was going to do.

She had come alone, and she knew immediately that that was a grave mistake.

At least she would have come with a friend, but she just didn't feel like coming with any at the time. Despite that, the decision was

deliberate. She still felt that she needed someone to dance with, someone to whisper at, someone to

smile and wink at, just as many other attendees were doing so at the present. Since she hadn't come with anyone,

she decided to go sit for a moment and think about how else she was going to enjoy the party.

As she turned, she almost collided with a taller, skinny lady. While she had an hourglass figure and looked fit,

Nina felt shorter and bigger than the lady right in front of her.

She looked into the lady's eyes intently, and there was a spark.

...