Her heart still hurt, but the pain was no longer leading her. Something else was, something firmer. I’m sitting in a chair, she said quietly. If this feels like a scene, maybe that says more about this table than it does about me. Their mother stared at her as if she had spoken in another language. Andre looked away. Kesha’s jaw tightened just enough for Marcus to notice.
Dinner did not recover after that. People tried. An aunt asked about dessert. Someone mentioned traffic. Another guest complimented the hotel, but every sentence came out thin and misplaced, as if the room itself had already accepted that the evening had turned into something no one could control. After 10 more strained minutes, Immani rose from her chair.
Marcus stood with her immediately, without show, without asking. That simple gesture did more to settle the shaking in her chest than anything else had all evening. She picked up her purse. Congratulations,” she said. And though the word was directed generally toward the table, her eyes rested on neither Kesha nor Andre long enough to make it personal.
Then she turned and walked toward the door. Marcus fell into step beside her. No one stopped them. Outside the private dining room, the hotel corridor felt unnaturally quiet. The carpet softened their steps. Warm light reflected off framed glass art on the walls. Immani exhaled for what felt like the first time in an hour, then pressed her fingers lightly to her temple.
The adrenaline was starting to drain, leaving behind fatigue and a delayed tremor that ran through her shoulders. “That was reckless,” she said. Marcus glanced at her. “Yes,” she gave a tired, humorless laugh. “At least you’re honest. I prefer accurate. They walked in silence until they reached the elevator.
When the doors opened and they stepped inside, Immani turned toward him fully for the first time since the dining room. “Why did you help me?” she asked. “Really?” Marcus’s expression did not change, but his eyes sharpened slightly as if he had been expecting the question. “Because you needed someone beside you. That’s not the whole answer.
