20. Titles

Rooted to the top of the stairs, I sat there, my head buried in my hands, struggling with the turmoil inside me. I was a tempest of emotions, a blend of fear, frustration, and an unspoken longing that had been simmering beneath the surface for years. The weight of Penelope's words, her presence, and the unresolved tension between us felt like a palpable force, suffocating yet vital.

After what felt like an eternity, I heard her footsteps approaching. Her fingers gently brushed through my hair, a soothing gesture that momentarily calmed the storm within me. She sat down beside me, our shoulders barely touching. The silence was heavy, broken only by the echo of my labored breathing against the walls. It was as if time had frozen, suspending us in a moment filled with unspoken questions and pent-up emotions.

The frustration within me reached a boiling point, and I let out a low, growling sound, a primal expression of my internal struggle. Standing abruptly, I turned to Penelope and off