“What’s wrong, my dear? What’s wrong?”
Reggie’s voice cracked with urgency as he still wrapped his arms around me. His usually steady hands trembled as they gripped my shoulders, shaking me gently as though willing me to snap out of whatever state I was in. The room was dimly lit, with only the warm glow from the chandelier above casting long shadows across his worried expression. His eyes darted over my face, scanning for any clue as to what was happening. His breaths came fast, the sound of his chest rising and falling quickly and unevenly.
I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t. My chest rose and fell erratically as my body seemed to be betraying me. Yet, amidst the chaos inside me, my lips stretched into an involuntary grin, a slow, creeping smile that widened until it dominated my face.
