Enzo's POV
Cassian didn't come to pick me up today, so I ended up taking the bus instead. It had been a while since I last used it, and something about it felt strangely nostalgic. The soft rumble beneath my feet, the occasional squeak of the brakes, and the chatter of strangers around me brought back faint memories of my old life back when things were simpler, when I wasn't tied to the dangerous orbit of vampires. I made my way to the very back, sliding into my usual favorite spot by the window.
I leaned my forehead against the cool glass, watching the world pass by in fleeting colors and blurred shapes. But my mind wasn't with the people outside. It wandered to Alaric. I wondered if he was alright, if he was tired of the endless battles he always seemed to find himself in. Did he ever stop to rest? Did he ever let himself feel the weight of everything he carried? A sigh slipped past my lips before I even realized it, the kind of sigh that came from deep inside.
