Chapter53:

# Chapter 53 : Max's Point of View I couldn't move from Sara's doorway. My feet felt stuck to the floor, heavy like stones. The room was so quiet I could hear the old clock on her wall, tick-tick-ticking away. Sara stood there, hugging herself tight, watching me like she was afraid I'd disappear if she blinked. I had to say something. The silence was too much. "Sara." My voice came out rough, like I hadn't used it in days. I had to start over. "Sara, there's this party tomorrow night. A business thing." I stopped, watching her face change as she listened. "I need to go, and... well, maybe you'd like to come with me." Her whole face changed. It was like watching someone turn on all the lights in a dark house. But there was fear there too. I could see it in the way her hands shook a little, in how she bit her lip before speaking. "You want me to come with you?" She said it so softly, like she was afraid speaking too loud would make the invitation disappear. "Really?" "Yeah." I tried to k