Chapter 39: Hard Choices

Sharon’s POV

Sitting in the canteen with Douglas for breakfast felt both ordinary and extraordinary all at once. The sight of us together was novel enough to catch people’s attention, especially since Douglas was a coach, a super successful baseball pro, and I was still just a student. Their gazes followed us and talked, whispers passing between tables.

Our seat was near the back, where the sunlight filtered through the large windows, casting a warm glow on everything. I wanted to focus on that warmth, on the lightness of just sharing a meal, but there was a dread about the moment we shared. It hung in the air like a dark cloud, and I knew he could sense it, too—the finality of our meeting. Come a certain time, this would be the last time we would do this.