Back in the wider life of the academy, however, the day continued to unfold in warmer colors.
And amidst all of it, Sheila also spent time with others.
She laughed more than she had in days. She spoke with Ariana, Charlotte, Dylan, Maxwell, and even tolerated Asher's presence from a slight distance whenever he happened to remain nearby. On the surface, she looked better. Considerably better, in fact. The heaviness that had clung to her for the last two days had eased enough that those around her could breathe a little more comfortably.
Ariana's help had done what it was meant to do.
It had not erased Sheila's emotions, nor simplified them into something unrealistically neat.
But it had helped her understand them.
And that changed everything.
Because now Sheila knew what she wanted.
That part was no longer unclear.
She wanted her brother back.
