The little snake became an extraordinary animal.
His pale scales reflected the light like polished ivory, while golden patterns stretched down his back. Over the years, his body grew longer and heavier until he became an impressive python measuring more than four meters.
Camilla was no longer the shy sixteen-year-old who had first held him.
She was a young woman with her own responsibilities, friendships, and ambitions.
But Dorato remained part of her life.
She knew when he preferred to remain hidden, when he was becoming restless, and when he was likely to shed his skin. She recognized subtle changes in his posture and movements.
To Camilla, the python was more than a pet.
He was a living reminder of the girl she had once been, a girl who had felt different from everyone around her and had found comfort in a creature that never judged her.
When Lorenzo died unexpectedly three years earlier, Camilla found herself spending more time with Dorato.
