★Noah★
Eloise led me downstairs. Her grip was firm but gentle on my arm. My body moved on instinct, but my mind was elsewhere – trapped in the echo of Anastasia’s voice, her desperate denial.
“No, no, no, no, this isn’t real…this cannot be real…No, this is NOT happening,”
The words had cut deeper than I would have thought possible. It had sliced right through any resolve I had left. I knew she was going to blame me. I knew she was going to hate me. It was inevitable. I had stolen something from her. Something that I could never give back. I sank down onto the couch in the dimly lit living room. I ran my hand over my face as Eloise sat down beside me. Her expression was drawn, the exhaustion was clear. She had her own struggles. Her own guilt to carry. And yet, here she was, trying to h
