The second I heard his voice, my throat tightened like someone had gripped it. It was rough, tired… real.
My eyes stung so fast I almost panicked. I blinked hard and forced myself to breathe through it.
I switched the call to video immediately. Even with this heavy makeup and a stranger's face painted onto mine, I trusted one thing with my whole life Lewis would know me.
The screen loaded.
And there he was.
For a second, I didn't recognize him.
This wasn't the man who always looked sharp, who always made sure his hair sat right and his shirt sat perfect. This Lewis looked like he hadn't slept. His jaw was dark with stubble. His cheeks looked hollow. His eyes were red at the edges, like he'd been fighting the same nightmare over and over.
My chest squeezed.
I wanted to reach through the screen and hold him.
He stared at me like he was looking at a ghost.
His lips moved.
"Elena?"
Even with the sound low, I read it clearly.
I nodded so hard it almost hurt.
