Ethan
I was sitting outside Ariana’s ward, my mind running a thousand miles per hour. The events of the past few hours had been brutal, both physically and emotionally. I absently rubbed the side of my jaw where Ryder had landed his punch. The pain was dull now, nothing compared to what Ariana had gone through. My focus was entirely on her, as it had been for a long time, even if she didn’t know it.
Mia arrived from our dorm with fresh clothes and some food for Ariana, snapping me out of my thoughts. She gave me a small, grateful smile, handing me a sandwich before heading inside the ward. I sat there, my foot tapping lightly against the floor, waiting for her to help Ariana. I could hear them talking softly through the door, and although I couldn’t make out the words, I felt some relief
