CHAPTER 27

I entered the next day as if everything was natural to me. Even though it felt heavy, I still tried to keep myself happy.

Dawzon's letter, crumpled and damp with tears, was a constant reminder of my own hasty judgment. His words, raw and vulnerable, had pierced through my defenses, revealing a side of him I'd never seen before.

I found myself trying to maintain a facade of strength, smiling at my friends. "I'm sorry to hear about Tito Mike. We'll accompany you when you go home, we'll visit Tito." Terry's hand on my shoulder as we hung out at Junspark.

"Yeah, thank you." I avoided looking at them. I chose not to open up about what happened. I chose to be strong and not show that I was struggling in the situation.

"Lara, don't keep it all in, we're your friends." Terry continued to say.

But I chose to be strong. I smiled vigorously, then drank a can of coke.

"That's the Lara we know. Strong and sturdy." Japs spoke, which made me chuckle as I drank.

"Thank you, I'm okay." I said lightly.