Finally, Aneira could move her legs. The weight in her chest was heavy, but she forced herself forward, one step after the other. Her eyes stayed fixed on Sophia.
Sophia felt it, that gaze. It wasn't just cold. It was burning. She turned her head, and their eyes met. Her throat bobbed in a hard swallow. She hadn't seen Aneira look like this before. Her eyes were sharp, stormy, but underneath, there was grief… Raw, aching grief.
Sophia instinctively wiped at her tears, standing up too quickly. Her movements were tense and defensive. "What are you doing here?" she asked, voice tight, almost trembling, but not from fear, but something close to guilt.
Aneira didn't answer. She looked at her for one brief second, then turned her eyes away like she couldn't bear to look at her any longer.
Sophia stiffened. Being ignored by the one person she had spent years overshadowing… it cut deeper than she thought possible.
