When we reached the top of the stone steps, I stopped. I pulled away from Demetrius’s side just enough to turn around and face the sea of eager, watching eyes. Sensing the shift in my demeanor, the roaring crowd slowly began to quiet down, whispers rippling through the ranks until a heavy, expectant silence fell over the lawn.
I swallowed hard, my hands clenching into fists at my sides to stop their shaking.
"I..." I began, my voice faltering in the crisp night air. I stopped, my mind racing as I looked out at the faces of the people I was supposed to lead.
Taking a deep breath, the raw honesty of my guilt pushed its way to the surface. "I don't feel like you should be cheering for me right now," I said, my voice carrying over the crowd, ringing with a somber intensity. "In fact, I want
