“Are you okay? You’ve barely even touched your ramen,” Ayawamat points out with a concerned lilt to his voice.
I shrug, absentmindedly pushing the ingredients around with my chopsticks. “I guess I’m not that hungry.”
Ayawamat slides the bowl away from me and takes my hands in his, turning me gently on my stool to face him. I manage to look at him, but the worry and compassion etched deep into his face has my heart clenching painfully in my chest and tears burning behind my eyes.
“Did Azadou say or do something? I’m not judging, I swear. I just know that he was here and now…Orenda, I’ve never seen you like this and it’s honestly scaring the f**k out of me,” he explains, his voice cracking from his concern.
That did it.
I squeeze his hands tight as the tears break through and fall from
