Before I could answer, Alexander appeared next to me.
"Clara," he said. "Come, I want to introduce you to someone."
Vanessa took a step back elegantly.
"It was a pleasure," she added, holding my gaze. "Welcome back."
Something struck me as odd: she wasn't with anyone. However, I dismissed it. I nodded and left with Alexander without looking back.
The night continued.
Interesting conversations. Promising contacts. People who listened when I spoke. I felt... in control.
But the body does not forget so easily. When I felt the need for air, I asked Alexander for a moment. A second alone, I had smiled so much that my cheeks trembled.
"Go," he said. "I'll catch up with you later."
The bathroom was empty. I leaned against the sink for a second and took a deep breath. I was not altered. I
