Elena’s POV
I stood just behind the velvet curtain, listening to the quiet hum of the conference hall. The voices on the other side blended together into a low tide of expectation, hundreds of people waiting, waiting for me.
The emcee’s voice carried clear and steady: “Please welcome our keynote speaker, Elena Hart, novelist and advocate, here to share her journey with us today.”
My palms dampened instantly. My cane rested by my side, my note cards tucked uselessly into my bag, I wouldn’t be reading them, of course. My vision wouldn’t allow that, but more than that, I didn’t want to. This wasn’t about scripted lines. This was about truth.
Adrian’s hand brushed against mine. He leaned close enough that I caught the faint scent of his cologne. “You’ve got this,” he whispered, his voice
