Chapter 11: A Step Forward

The morning after the party, Lucas sat by the window, watching the sun slowly rise over the rooftops. He hadn't expected to enjoy himself last night, but he had. It still felt strange, like he had stepped into someone else's life for a few hours. But now, in the quiet of the morning, reality settled back in.

A soft knock on his door broke his thoughts. Theo peeked inside. "Yo. You alive?"

Lucas rolled his eyes. "Obviously."

Theo grinned and stepped in, flopping onto the chair by the desk. "So, be honest—was last night the worst experience of your life, or just mildly tolerable?"

Lucas hesitated, then shrugged. "It was… good."

Theo gasped dramatically. "A miracle! Someone alert the press!"

Lucas chuckled, shaking his head. "You're ridiculous."

Theo sat up, his usual playfulness dimming just a little. "For real, though… It was nice seeing you have fun. You don't have to force yourself, but… I hope you know we want you around."

Lucas looked down at his hands. He still wasn't sure how to respond to kindness like that. But instead of retreating, he gave a small nod. "Thanks."

Later that day, Lucas found himself sitting with Emily in the school library, flipping through their project notes.

"You seemed different at the party," Emily said suddenly, glancing up from her book.

Lucas tensed. "Different how?"

She smiled. "Lighter. Like you weren't carrying the whole world on your shoulders."

Lucas looked away. Maybe she wasn't wrong. Maybe, for the first time in years, the weight didn't feel so heavy.

That night, before bed, Lucas hesitated before kneeling beside his bed. He hadn't prayed since the night of the party, but something inside him stirred.

"God… I don't know what You're doing, but… thank You."

Maybe healing was slow. Maybe it was messy. But tonight, Lucas felt just a little bit closer to hope.