#Chapter 52: The Hero

Aria’s POV At the hospital, with my mask firmly in place again, I walked with Silas down to the first floor to see him off. We’d talked for a few hours after our conversation about Lucian, speaking about memories of the past as well as some of our more recent medical achievements. Now, unfortunately, it was time for him to get back to work. In the lobby, I gave him a hug. “Thank you for everything,” I told him. He hugged me in return. “Let’s not waste more years before speaking again, alright?” “I promise,” I told him. Silas was a good ally, mentor, and friend. Having him in my corner, I felt like there was nothing I couldn’t achieve. Yet, in that moment, before we could even finish hugging, reporters who had been lurking inside the lobby swarmed around us. Shoving their tape recorders into our face, they asked us question after question in such quick succession that I struggled to even understand what they were saying. “Everyone calm down,” Silas said, more accustomed