As she sat there, the weight of the evening pressing upon her, the room felt suffocating. The lavish decorations and the scent of fresh flowers seemed to mock her, highlighting the chasm between the outward extravagance and her inner turmoil. Her heart pounded in her chest, and each passing second felt like an eternity.
Suddenly, the old man let out a soft, involuntary sigh, and his body went limp. She called his name, her voice barely a whisper at first, then louder, trying to rouse him. When he didn’t respond, panic surged through her veins. She shook him gently at first, and then more vigorously, calling out for help as dread settled into the pit of her stomach.
