Lucas Branwell
I hurried out of the Headmistress's office, the weight of confusion and embarrassment pressing down on me like a suffocating fog. Stella's voice trailed behind me, calling out my name, but I couldn't bear to face her. The echo of the door closing behind me was a muffled thud, sealing off whatever had just transpired in that room.
The corridors stretched out ahead, a maze of stone walls and dimly lit sconces. My steps were aimless, each footfall a heavy echo of the turmoil inside. I didn't know where I was going; I just needed to be away, away from the eyes that had witnessed my awkward hesitation.
The cool air outside the office did little to alleviate the warmth creeping up my neck. I found myself in a secluded alcove, away from the main thoroughfare. Leaning against the
