The sound of laughter and clinking glasses surrounded her, a stark contrast to the turmoil within. She felt disconnected from the celebration, an outsider in her own life.
The faces around her blurred, their expressions indistinct as her mind remained fixated on the book and its uncertain fate.
Reina's hands trembled as she continued to play with her fingers, her anxiety manifesting in every nervous gesture.
The minutes dragged on, each one an eternity as she waited for a sign, a signal that everything was going according to plan. But with each passing moment, her hope waned, replaced by a growing sense of dread.Finally, she couldn't bear it any longer. She needed to know. She rose from her seat, her movements deliberate and careful, then she felt a sudden, vice-like grip on her arm halted her in her tracks.
