The break was like a bad dream.
Plates, voices, laughter all around – but for me, everything was just a humming, dull and distant.
I sat in my place, my back against the cold wall, my gaze fixed on the sandwich in front of me.
It looked harmless.
A piece of bread, a few slices of cucumber.
But for me, it was a wall.
My stomach was empty, but my head rebelled at the mere thought of taking a bite.
The rustling of butter paper sounded like thunder.
Someone laughed, somewhere a tray clattered – everything too loud, too close.
I felt as if I were sitting in an aquarium, sealed off from a world that continued to eat and talk while I slowly faded away.
I stared at the sandwich as if it would devour me instead of the other way around.
My fingers trembled.
I couldn't do it.
"Eat."
The voice cut through the noise.
Deep. Rough. Unmistakable.
My head lifted – and there he was.
Alaric.
---
He sat across from me, arms crossed, his gaze steady, unyielding.
