Ella

When George tells me his grandmother has been hospitalized, something in his face shakes me. His usual confident, untouchable demeanor has been shattered, replaced by the look of a man clinging to hope.

I stand frozen, watching him walk away as if someone has paused the world around us. My head feels heavy, buzzing with emotions I am not ready to process.

"El, you okay?" Elijah's voice cuts through my daze.

I blink and nod, but the truth is, ...