ELORA'S POV “I just want to eat some real food and sleep,” I muttered to myself as I unlocked my front door and slowly limped in. Lucas had dropped me off a few minutes ago, and as much as I appreciated how he handled everything, I was glad to be home. I hadn't eaten properly at the restaurant–I barely ate the food before I embarrassed myself and almost fell on my face. My stomach was loud in protest now. I microwave some leftover pasta then add eggs as protein to feel better about it. As I settled on the couch and began eating, I exhaled deeply. No place like home—the silence in my apartment was so comforting. No endless conversations, no Lucian and Maya, no professor Oliver leaning in with questions about my past and future like I wasn't already suffocating under the pressure.

