I stayed out there for what felt like hours, and it very well could have been. I thought I sensed something else out there, but I heard nothing out of the ordinary once my ears could make out anything besides my muffled crying and my heartbeat p.umping too loudly.
I took one final shaky breath, wiping off the remnants of my tears, repaired my mask, collecting the shattered pieces where I had let emotion slip through tonight.
Tomorrow was a new day, and I would be ready for it—I would be ready for battle.
____
The following morning, Alice rushed in and glanced over me with weary eyes. I f.orced myself to shower the night before, even though the inky black sky was softening by the time I made it back to my room. I was glad that I didn’t run into anyone, so I didn’t have to try to come up
