Among the crowd stood Andrei and Elena. They had been inseparable since childhood, but tonight, a shadow loomed between them. Andrei had spent the evening watching Elena dance, his heart tightening every time a stranger caught her eye or offered a hand.

“You’re doing it again,” Elena whispered, pulling him aside into the quiet of an arched stone walkway. “Doing what?” Andrei replied, though his jaw was tight.

Andrei looked at the ground, then back at the stage where Ghita was pouring his soul into the lyrics: Jealousy is part of love.

He pulled her back toward the light of the square. “Then let’s dance,” he said. “I want everyone to see that I’m the one you chose.”