Through the Glass

Chapter 4

Fingers drumming on his desk, Connor held his phone to his ear and half-heartedly listened to Max's excited voice. The retreat that he had reluctantly agreed to was now only a few days away, and doubts were starting to gnaw at him like a persistent mosquito bite. He stared out the window at the looming city, wondering if this weekend would really bring him the peace he desperately craved.

Max's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "So, it's called Willow Brook Retreat. Super low-key, but it's supposed to be, like, transformative for people. Helps with anxiety, burnout, all that stuff."

Connor frowned, glancing out the window at the city skyline. "How do you know about this place anyway?"

"Someone I know went last year," Max replied. "They were in a rough spot, kinda like you are now. Anxiety was through the roof, couldn't focus on anything. They did the retreat, and when they came back, it was like they were a new person."

Connor raised an eyebrow, not entirely convinced. "A new person? C'mon, that sounds a little too good to be true."

Max laughed, though there was a genuine note to it. "I get it. But seriously, they said it was one of the best things they've ever done for themselves. They do all sorts of stuff—meditation, therapy sessions, nature walks... It's not just about chilling. It's about figuring your shit out."

Connor remained silent, absorbing Max's words. The idea of confronting his own issues in a place like that made his chest tighten, but a part of him was curious too. He could hear the sincerity in Max's voice, and that made him wonder if there was more to it than just empty promises.

"And you think this'll work for me too?" Connor asked, more out of reluctance than interest.

"Look, man, all I know is that you can't keep avoiding your anxiety forever. I'm not saying you'll come back as a different person, but maybe you'll come back with a better handle on things. That's the point, right?"

Connor nervously chewed on the inside of his cheek, his thoughts racing with the endless what-ifs and potential consequences. He had always been the type to keep his problems bottled up, avoiding confrontation at all costs. Yet Max's words hit a nerve, forcing Connor to acknowledge that he couldn't continue living in this state of fear and isolation. His mind was torn between staying in his comfort zone or taking a leap of faith into the unknown.

"Fine," Connor said, exhaling slowly. "Willow Brook Retreat it is."

"Hell yeah, man. You're gonna be glad you did this."

Connor ended the call and tossed his phone onto the desk. His gaze drifted toward the window again, the city stretching out beneath him, alive with movement and sound. But inside, everything felt still, heavy, like the weight of his own thoughts was pressing him down. Willow Brook Retreat. The words lingered in his mind, a strange mixture of dread and anticipation swirling in his chest.

He stood up, running a hand through his hair, pacing across the small space of his apartment. Retreats were supposed to be relaxing, weren't they? A place to unwind, clear your head. But the idea of being surrounded by strangers, forced to talk about his feelings, made his skin crawl.

Connor wandered into the kitchen, aimlessly opening the fridge and staring at the contents without really seeing them. His mind kept circling back to what Max had said—how someone had gone to the retreat and come back changed. Could he really do that? Could he face whatever was lurking beneath the surface of his anxiety?

The truth was, he didn't even know what he was afraid of anymore. His music career had taken off in ways he'd never expected, but instead of feeling proud, he felt... exposed. Vulnerable. The faceless crowd behind the screen had grown into something he could no longer ignore. They knew his lyrics, his sound, but not him—not really. And the thought of them seeing him, seeing his flaws, his anxiety, his failures—it terrified him.