Lost in madness
until the room rings with laughter.
I raise my glass when everyone else does, but the champagne tastes like ash in my mouth.
"You okay?" a voice asks beside me.
I turn to see James settling into the empty chair next to mine. His bow tie is slightly crooked now, and there's a genuine concern in his eyes that makes my chest tighten.
"Not really," I admit, surprised by my own honesty.
"Want to get out of here?" he asks, glancing around the crowded room. "I know a quiet bar about ten minutes away. Good music, strong drinks, no family asking when you're getting married."
Sikat na Kabanata