32
~Elara's POV
I walked back into my office with this strange heaviness in my chest, like someone had placed a stone there when I wasn't looking. I shut the door gently and stood still for a moment, letting the silence settle around me. The room felt too bright, too quiet… too aware of me somehow.
I dropped my small lunch pack on the desk and sat down slowly, pushing my chair back until my legs stretched out a little under the table. My fingers brushed over the pack again, but I didn't even bother opening it. My stomach twisted each time I thought about the cafeteria, how the whispers rose the moment I stepped in, how every pair of eyes turned to me as I walked in wearing a neon sign that said Hey, look at me, the villain of the week.
And all that… just because Lisa lost her job.
I dragged my hands over my face and let out a small sigh. "People are actually wild," I muttered softly.
