Ryder's POV
The hallway was silent, the only sound the faint echo of my footsteps on the polished floor. The weight of everything was pressing down on me, Amara’s silence, her distance, and my inability to break through the walls she’d built around herself.
Every moment with her felt like we were on the edge of something, but I didn’t know how to bridge the gap. My mind was a mess, and no matter how hard I tried to focus, all I could think about was her. I couldn’t get her out of my head, no matter how hard I tried.
I turned a corner and stopped in my tracks when I saw a shadow lingering near the door. The shape of the person was familiar, but in the haze of confusion clouding my thoughts, I didn’t pause to question it.
“Amara?” I called, my voice hoarse, a bit of hope creeping in de
