{Elira}
~**^**~
I couldn't shake off the heaviness in my chest—not after the week I'd had.
Still, I followed Cambria and the others into the cafeteria, trying to appear as though I hadn't spent half the night thinking about my mother… and the letter from the student council.
The cafeteria was its usual storm of voices and clinking metal. I joined the food line, gripping my tray with half-hearted energy.
The air smelled of toasted bread, grilled sausage, and sweet berry yoghurt—comfort food for another long day.
I added a couple of banana pancakes, some sausage, and a jar of yoghurt onto my tray.
Not my usual enthusiastic selection, but I wasn't sure how much I could eat with my mind spiralling in a dozen directions.
Cambria stood beside me, as always, calm and focused. She had a salad, an egg, and the same pancakes I'd picked.
