As Avery approached the mysterious boy, she felt a mix of emotions. She bent down to talk to him, and the sweet fragrance of the roses wafted up, calming her nerves. "Hey," she said softly, her voice tinged with nervousness.
The boy looked up, and their eyes met. Avery's heart skipped a beat as she gazed into his dark, depthless eyes. She felt drawn to him, like she was being pulled into the abyss. The boy's pale skin and light beauty mark under his left eye made him look like an elf prince from a fantasy world.
The boy's curiosity was palpable as he asked, "May I help you?" Avery's cheeks flushed as she mumbled, "You've got a nice voice..." But her words were cut short as memories flooded her mind, and she felt a wave of panic wash over her.
She clutched her head, her vision blurring. Suddenly, a warm touch on her shoulder steadied her. The boy's dark eyes locked onto hers, and his calm demeanor soothed her frazzled nerves. "It's okay... breathe," he said, guiding her through the breathing exercises she had learned in rehab.
As Avery's panic receded, she looked up at the boy, her eyes watery. "Thanks," she mumbled. The boy's expression softened, and he took his hand back from her shoulder.
"So?" he asked, his voice flat but gentle. Avery realized she had forgotten why she approached him in the first place. "I... I've seen you here before," she stammered. "I'm a patient here. My name's Avery Joyce."
The boy's expression remained neutral, but his eyes seemed to hold a hint of curiosity. "Noah," he said, introducing himself.
As Avery watched him walk away, she felt embarrassed and anxious. She had been so caught up in her own emotions that she hadn't explained herself properly. "I was just... curious," she mumbled, feeling foolish.
Miss Brooke, who had been observing from a distance, watched Avery with complex feelings. She had seen the girl's panic and her subsequent recovery. She knew she needed to talk to Mrs. Joyce about Avery's progress.