The car stopped in front of a tall hotel building.
I did not know how we got there. The ride had been so suffocating that I couldn't remember a single turn Elara took and where she had taken me.
I followed her into the elevator and stood beside her, staring blankly at the floor numbers as they climbed. My chest felt tight.
This wasn't how I thought things would progress.
I knew I had been rude. I admitted that much now. She said she would wait, and I went out looking for someone else. No matter how I justified it, that part wouldn't change.
For what? To be on equal footing with her.
I couldn't bring myself to look at her face. At the same time, I was afraid of what she might do next.
Inside the elevator, Elara undid the top button of her shirt.
The doors opened.
She stepped out at a normal pace. For me, it was too fast. I lagged behind, my feet dragging as if they were glued to the floor.
Elara noticed.
