Ewan inhaled softly, attempting to calm the rising palpitations of his heart as Athena stepped closer to him, after shutting the door behind her.
What is she doing? He wondered, taking in the cold glint in her eyes that only intensified his growing unease. His gaze darted to the door for a second, and he could almost hear the hushed whispers of his friends inside, their curiosity spilling into the hallway like an uninvited guest.
For an hour, he had stood outside, torn between wanting to be part of the merriment and feeling like an outsider.
With every burst of laughter that floated through the door, his heart constricted tighter and his head pounded harder. Each chuckle from inside felt like a stab to his gut, a reminder of what he was missing.
It was only when the ache threatened to overwhelm him that he had decided to knock, seeking answers—answers he feared might only lead to more questions.
