“No, wait!” I call out to her, but she had rushed out the door. Overwhelmed by a sudden feeling of panic, I tear off Vera’s arm from the sides of my face and rush out the door.

I could barely register Vera’s frantic voice behind me, urging me to stay.

By the time I got to the corridor, I couldn’t find Lyra, so I rushed down the stairs, and by the time I got to the third floor, that's when I saw her.

I wasn’t thinking; seeing her leave felt like I was losing her, and in my heart, I ...