CHAPTER 12: Back to Eventide Cabaret

RUE

I've been raised with everyone always saying how strong I am. Some even questioned if I had any feelings for others. Tears were never a part of my story, not even when my dad passed away. Stoicism was my shield, and I wore it proudly.

But when I saw Tysha crying outside that hospital, a twinge of something new hit me. It was like something squeezed my heart, a feeling I'd never felt before. Her tears, her vulnerability, stirred an unexpected pain within me.

I had become really good at keeping my feelings in check, moving through life without letting emotions show. However, in that moment, as I saw her pain, a crack formed in the tough exterior I had carefully crafted. It was like a discovery, a peek into a world of emotions I believed were out of my reach.

Her tears brought about a discomfort that went beyond the surface. It wasn't just sympathy; it was a stirring of something profound, a realization of our shared humanity. Perhaps, there's more to life than the unyielding toug