After the pounding headache and the flood of strange, fragmented memories, Hazel had locked herself in the bathroom. She wiped away her tears, splashed cold water on her face, and stared at her reflection until the redness in her eyes faded. By the time she stepped back into the hall, she had forced a smile — the kind of smile meant to reassure herself as much as anyone else.
But as she nearly bumped into Wren, the air shifted.
"Oh… they left already? So soon?" Hazel asked lightly, trying to be the understanding partner.
Wren didn't answer right away. Her eyes were bloodshot, her jaw tight. When she finally spoke, her voice carried no warmth.
"All I wanted was to get you out of that abusive marriage of yours."
Hazel froze. Something in Wren's tone made her chest tighten. The words weren't just casual; they were final.
