|Katherine|
Grandpa’s question landed like a sudden gust of wind, catching me completely off guard. My breath hitched for just a second, my chest tightening in a reflexive flutter, before I forced myself to gather composure. I let the stiffness ease, replacing it with a smile that I carefully shaped to be warm, bright, and effortless.
I turned to Javier, closing the small space between us until I was right at his side. The familiar weight of him steadied me, grounding me in a way nothing else could. Without thinking, I slipped my hand around his arm, anchoring myself as I turned back to Grandpa with as much cheer as I could muster.
“This is Javier, Grandpa,” I said, my voice carrying a lightness I didn’t quite feel, the words tumbling out as though we were simply introducing a friend. “
