Chapter 152: The Waiting Hour
The coffee maker was making more noise than it should have. Every drop of liquid in the brewing process sounded like the ticking of an unavoidable clock as its buzz reverberated throughout the otherwise silent apartment. As I clutched the mug, my fingers trembled as I tried to relax my breathing and my mind. But it was insufficient.
I poured the coffee, slowly and with intent. Steam ascended, twisting like smoke, and for an instant, I gazed at it, bewildered. The silence was overwhelming. Excessively silent. Camille's laughter was absent, Alexis offered no scientifical comments, and Sienna's gentle voice was silent. The outside world appeared to pause in silence.
My grip slipped just as I reached for the drink. I couldn't stop thinking about Connor's smile, his cold tone with me, and the way his voice echoed in my mind. Sienna's screams. I could feel the stress building inside of me, my fingers getting stiff, my chest tightening, until—
The porcelain's sharp edges sliced into my flesh as the mug broke in my hands. My bare feet were splashed with hot, boiling coffee that spilled across the counter. I remained motionless. I didn't flinch as the dark liquid flowed from my palm, mingling with blood. Didn't even blink.
The sharp smell of coffee burned my nose, but I didn't react.
I heard her before I saw her—Sienna, standing silently in the doorway, her eyes on me. No words. Just that soft, searching gaze that knew something was wrong. She didn't say a thing. Just walked over and, with that quiet grace of hers, grabbed a dish towel and began cleaning up the mess.
I watched her, numb. She didn't ask. Didn't demand. Just... helped. But even in this, there was a distance. Something between us that wasn't there before. And I couldn't tell if it was me or her who had changed.
She finished cleaning, and when she stood up, she looked at me for a long moment. Her hand rested on the counter, eyes still locked on mine. And then, without another word, she turned and left the room.
The silence stretched between us, thick as fog.
I didn't thank her. Didn't say a word.
But I wanted to. So badly.