Through the Glass

Chapter 13

The last morning session had just ended, and Eliza lingered in her seat, letting the weight of the morning settle over her. The group had been quieter than usual, the usual hum of conversation replaced by introspective silence. The discussions had been heavy, and the emotions in the room palpable.

Beside her, Connor sat with his hands resting in his lap, his gaze fixed on the floor. There was a tension about him today that hadn't been there before, and Eliza couldn't quite figure out what was bothering him. She had squeezed his hand during the session as a silent offer of comfort, but now, as the room cleared out, she wasn't sure how to bridge the gap that seemed to have opened between them.

As they stood to leave, Matthew approached them, his presence as calm and composed as always. "Eliza," he said, his voice gentle but firm, "do you have a moment? I was hoping we could talk over lunch."

Eliza blinked, caught off guard. "Uh, sure," she said, glancing over at Connor. He met her gaze, his expression carefully neutral, though she could see something flicker behind his eyes. "I'll meet you later?" she asked him, suddenly unsure.

Connor nodded, but there was something off in the way his jaw tightened, the way he shoved his hands into his pockets. "Yeah, I'll catch you after."

Matthew gestured for her to follow, and as Eliza left the room with him, she could feel Connor's gaze burning into her back. The unease she had sensed from him earlier was only growing, and she had no idea how to address it.

They made their way to the dining hall, where Matthew led her to a small table near the windows, away from the other retreat-goers. The room was filling up with people, their voices low and subdued after the morning's emotional intensity, but the private space Matthew had chosen felt almost too intimate.

"I wanted to check in with you," Matthew began as they sat down, his tone gentle but direct. "You've been making great progress here, and I've noticed you and Connor have formed a strong connection."

Eliza tensed, sensing where the conversation was going. "We've been supporting each other," she said carefully, trying to keep her tone neutral. "It's been helpful."

Matthew nodded, though there was a contemplative look in his eyes. "I'm glad to see that. But I also want to remind you to focus on your own healing. It's easy to become intertwined with someone else's journey, especially in an environment like this."

Eliza frowned, unsure how to respond. She hadn't seen her connection with Connor as a distraction from her own growth—it had felt like a lifeline in the midst of everything. "I'm working on my own stuff," she said quietly. "Connor's just... helping me through it."

Matthew's expression softened, but there was still a note of caution in his voice. "I don't doubt that. But be mindful of how much you're leaning on each other. It's important to maintain balance, especially when emotions are running high."

Eliza nodded, though she couldn't shake the discomfort that had settled in her chest. She didn't like the implication that her connection with Connor might be hindering her progress. It felt like they were both supporting each other, not dragging one another down. But Matthew's words planted a seed of doubt that was hard to ignore.

The rest of the lunch passed with light conversation, but Eliza's mind kept drifting back to Connor—how he had reacted when Matthew had pulled her aside, the tension in his expression. She had sensed something shifting in him since that morning, and now she worried that Matthew's words had only complicated things further.

When she was finally free from Matthew's presence, she found Connor sitting alone at their usual table, his plate mostly untouched. His posture was tense, his arms crossed as he stared out the window.