Rosie kept her eyes to the door.
Her body was stiff and tense like a rock as she waited for it to open.
Beside her sat Cedric. He found the tight rock of her fist on the table in front of them and tried to ease it open. Her fingers weren't budging.
"Rosie," he whispered, dipping his head to bring his mouth close to her ears. "You don't have to do this."
She clenched her jaw. And shook her head.
"I have to," she muttered. "I'm sorry."
"Let them take care of this."
"I can't," she swallowed the lump in her throat and blinked a few times. "I'm sorry but I just can't."
His arm wrapped around her still-tense body and pulled her close to his side. "Then try to relax, love."
She tried. Oh, she tried but she couldn't.
"I'm scared," she admitted.
His arm got tight and he kissed the side of her head.
"It'll be alright."
