She then walked past him without slowing down.
Not a glance or even the courtesy of pretending she hadn’t seen him standing there.
Ryan turned slightly, watching her retreating back. He let out a long weary sigh. There was a helplessness that sat in his chest, heavy and unwelcome. He hated that feeling, the feeling of wanting to do something, anything, and knowing there was nothing he was allowed to do.
If things were different, he would have stopped her. He would have asked if she was okay. He would have followed her.
But things were not different. He felt like he was just another reminder to her that she feels trapped.
And so he just stayed back where he was, listening as her footsteps moving up the stairs.
When it was evening, Sylvie felt like the walls were closing in on her.
A
