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, I'm not.
He gives me a half-smile and gestures to his car. "I'll drive you home."
We walk to the car in silence. I feel numb. As we approach the car, Elijah reaches out to open the passenger door for me, his eyes searching mine for any trace of what I might be feeling.
"You don't have to be there for him, Ella," he says quietly, climbing into the driver's seat. "You've done more than enough already."
I take my seat and look straight into the night.
"Just take me home, Elijah," I whisper.
***