Chapter 30: Hollow Feeling

*Rosemary*

I stared at Kine as he drove me back home. He looked out of it. Had something happened at Cira's place? I wanted to ask, but if it was something bad, he might not feel comfortable sharing it with me.

"You okay?" I blurted out without meaning to.

Kine smiled, eyes on the road. "Yeah, why wouldn't I be?"

I hesitated for a moment, unsure if I should push further or drop the subject altogether. But my curiosity got the best of me, and I couldn't help but inquire, "You just seemed a bit distant back there at Cira's. Did something happen?"

Kine's smile faded slightly. He took a deep breath and let out a sigh. "It's nothing, really. Just some personal stuff I've been dealing with lately."

I could sense there was more to it than he was letting on, but I didn't want to pry too much. Instead, I offered a reassuring smile. "Well, if you ever need someone to talk to, you know I'm here for you, right?"