Eloise’ POV
My things were packed, neatly arranged in the bag that sat waiting by the door. The room felt eerily empty now, stripped of the clutter and familiarity I had built over the weeks.
Everything I might need had been carefully selected and placed inside—not by me, but by others who seemed far more excited about this journey than I could ever be.
Their eagerness to see me take this step felt like a weight on my chest, pressing down with expectations I wasn’t sure I could meet.
“Are you really going to be alright?” Zoe’s voice broke the silence, pulling my thoughts back to the present. She stood before me, her hands clasping mine tightly, her eyes full of worry. “You don’t have to do this, you know. You can turn back now if this isn’t what you want. It’s your life, Eloise. Don’
