Chapter 35 We Are Not Going To Let Them Break You

• A sudden, sharp pang hit Zara as she ran, she flashed back to Elena’s face, bright with genuine excitement, in the crowded high school hallway. It was the day Jayden, her long-time crush, had finally, finally noticed Zara. Elena had been practically vibrating with joy, grabbing Zara’s arm, her eyes wide. "He looked at you, Zara! He actually looked at you! Oh my God, this is happening!" Her enthusiasm had been so real, so infectious, that Zara had allowed herself to believe it.
• What went wrong? The question, old and unanswerable, twisted in her gut. There had been no signs, no subtle shifts, no cracks in Elena’s loyalty that Zara could recall. It had simply… happened. The betrayal, sharp and sudden, had blindsided her.
• Exhausted, both physically and emotionally, Zara finally returned to her apartment. The familiar walls offering her a little solace. The air still felt heavy, contaminated by Elena’s desperate presence. She needed to clear her head, to literally sweep away the emotional dust.