Chapter 23 Caius' Offer

• The following morning, I woke up alone, languid and slow. From the unkempt part of the room and the silence, I knew Clarissa wasn’t here. I didn't linger on that for long as I pushed myself off the bed and went about my morning routine. I stared and watched as my hands performed the routine tasks on autopilot. It almost felt like I was watching someone else. When I came out dressed to go out, I heard a knock on the door.
• “Enter.” I knew it wasn’t Clarissa. Instead, it was Nerissa, her sister. She mutely placed the tray on the coffee table and asked, “Would Luna like me to assist in something else?” I could hear the curt tone under the polite decorum. I shook my head. “Thank you but that will be all.” She didn’t wait around. I regarded the food tray for some time before sighing and sitting down to put some calories in my system.
• Post breakfast, I pushed in another pill down my dry throat, swallowing it without taking water, soaking in the bitter aftertaste and the painful way it slid down my throat as a reminder of what Isaac treated me as. My eyes lingered towards the door for some time, half-expecting for the familiar girl to walk in, but when she didn’t, I shoved down the guilt and picked up my phone, slipping it in my jean pocket. The beige sweatshirt felt slightly too big now, covering half of my palms. I didn’t linger on that for long, the fact that I was eating less and suffering more was apparent, or maybe it was due to heat. I opened the door only to come face to face with Margaret, who looked stunned at seeing me up and moving.