Chapter 75: Help (2)

Gabriel stood in front of the full-length mirror, the weight of the day ahead pressing down on him like a too-tight suit. He stared at his reflection, the familiar coldness in his eyes revealing the turmoil that raged beneath the surface. The grand ball would mark the third day of celebrations, and with each passing moment, the oppressive weight of expectations grew heavier on him.

He was all too familiar with masks, both the ones he wore on his face and the ones he created around his heart. Today, though, felt different. The anticipation of the ball had already begun to gnaw at him, as had the endless smiles and polite conversation, the cold glances that would come his way, and the whispers that followed every movement.