Representing the troupe, I fought my way into the finals of the International Dance Championship.
I had been certain I would never see Elias again.
Not in this lifetime.
But fate had other plans.
The day before the finals, I found him standing outside the arena gates.
Only a few months had passed, yet he looked like a stranger.
His silver hair hung messily over his forehead. Dark stubble shadowed his jaw, and exhaustion had hollowed out his eyes. He had lost so much weight that he looked almost spectral.
He stood perfectly still, staring at me.
His lips parted, but no words came.
Ms. Laila draped a jacket over my shoulders and glanced in his direction.
"Chloe, do you know him?"
I looked away and continued toward the entrance.
"No. I've never seen him before."
My heart no longe
