The words landed like stones.
Heavy.
Cold.
Precise.
Lana felt every single one.
Because despite everything—
Part of her had been wondering the same thing.
The women continued gossiping.
But Lana wasn't listening anymore.
Her ears were ringing.
Her heartbeat suddenly much louder than their voices.
Strategic.
The word repeated itself.
Again.
And again.
And again.
Eventually the women left.
Their voices faded as the restroom door closed.
Silence returned.
But Lana remained exactly where she was.
Standing motionless inside the cubicle.
Staring at the locked door.
Feeling suddenly foolish.
Very foolish.
Because for weeks she had tried not to think about the differences between her world and Thomas's, despite her newly found status.
She had convinced herself they didn't
