Nia was silent throughout the breakfast. Zack could feel something was weighing on her. He sat across from her, his eyes never leaving her face.
He noticed the furrow in her brow, the way her shoulders seemed to carry an invisible weight.
"Are you okay?" Zack's voice broke the silence, low and gentle.
Nia looked up, startled. She forced a small smile, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah, I'm fine."
Zack tilted his head, unconvinced. "You're not, baby" he said, his tone steady. "What's wrong?"
Nia's gaze dropped to her lap, her fingers curling tightly around the mug. "It's nothing. Really."
"Nia," he pressed, leaning forward, his hand reaching across the table to cover hers. "If something's bothering you—if I've done something—if whatever happened in the room, you feel I have crossed a fine, then I am really sorry for it. I will be more careful. But please just tell me."
