-Elena-
Finally, eating some real food made my stomach feel almost euphoric. My body, now satisfied, focused on the energy from the meal rather than the persistent pain. However, despite the comfort of the food, the atmosphere remained strained. After my panic attack, everyone seemed uncertain about how to behave around me or each other, likely worried about setting me off again.
I began to realize that these people weren’t like Marcus and his men, and I felt a pang of guilt for disrupting their enjoyment. Jane stood nearby with a cup of warm coffee. After she had served me, a guy approached her and kissed her deeply before pulling her closer. The embrace seemed to ease their tension, as if they found true comfort in each other. He continued to glance at her frequently, as if needing con
