I took a bite of my open steak sandwich, savoring the burst of flavor before letting out a slow breath.
Mia sat across from me, her Caesar salad half-finished, sipping on her banana smoothie while watching me carefully—not pushing, not forcing conversation, just letting me take my time.
So I did.
“It’s a lot, Mia.” My voice was quieter than usual, the weight of the last 24 hours settling fully now that we were finally in a space away from it all.
Mia nodded, giving me that space, waiting for me to keep going.
“Winning the warrior trials—it felt... incredible. Georgia losing? Even better.” I smirked at that, though it faded quickly. “But then everything else just... happened. And suddenly, it’s not just about me. It’s about who I am. Who I was. And what that actually means.”
I ran a h
