Chapter 21

• ALEX
• I watch Hannah; a genuine smile graces her usually composed features, and I can't help but feel a warmth spread through me in response. It strikes me then that this side of her, so open and unguarded, is a rarity. She often conceals her emotions behind a mask of calmness, but in this moment, her true self shines through, and it is a sight to behold.
• A thought flickers through my mind, spurred by the contrast between the Hannah I see before me and the version of her that Alice has always portrayed. There is no sense of malice emanating from her. My recent conversation with Hannah resurfaces in my mind, intertwining with memories of Alice's actions last night. Could it be possible that things aren't as straightforward as I believe them to be? Could my longtime friend, whom I hold dear, be concealing the truth from me?