I wasn't sure how long I stayed there, crouched on the floor like a broken doll. The silence pressed in, thick and suffocating, until the only sound left was the uneven rhythm of my breathing. My palms were damp against my face, but my eyes stayed dry, just like they were supposed to be.
I took a shaky breath and wiped my face with the back of my hand. Enough. I didn't want to sit here feeling pathetic anymore. I stood up, unzipped the heavy gown, and changed back into the simpler dress I came in with. The silence outside felt colder now.
When I finally reached for the doorknob and pulled it open, I nearly jumped out of my skin.
Lucian was standing right there.
"Holy—" I almost cursed, catching myself just in time. "What are you doing here?!"
His expression was unreadable, eyes dark and calm, like he'd been waiting for me to come out all along.
"Feeling okay now?"
