Through the Glass

Chapter 14

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the wide windows of the main retreat room, casting a soft golden glow on the group as they settled into their first session of the afternoon. Eliza sat next to Connor, their chairs close, her arm brushing his occasionally as they shifted in their seats. She glanced at him, sensing the tension in his body, the way his jaw clenched and his brow furrowed.

Something was off.

She had noticed it during lunch—his mood had shifted after Matthew had asked her to join him. Even though she and Connor had cleared the air, the remnants of his frustration still lingered like a shadow hovering between them. He was here, physically present, but emotionally distant. She felt it in the way he barely met her eyes, in the silence that had stretched too long between them.

As Matthew began facilitating the group, Eliza struggled to focus. Her thoughts kept drifting back to Connor. The group had gathered to discuss more personal reflections, an extension of the morning's work, but Eliza couldn't stop watching him out of the corner of her eye. His body was tense, his arms crossed over his chest in a closed-off posture. Every now and then, his leg bounced, a sign of agitation he usually kept hidden.

Eliza's stomach knotted with concern. She had gotten to know him well enough over the past few days to recognize when something was bothering him, but whatever was eating at him now felt different. Deeper. His earlier comments about feeling overshadowed as a kid, particularly by his brother Daniel, kept coming back to her. She could almost feel the weight of that memory pressing down on him.

He wasn't sharing today. While the others spoke, Connor sat there, disengaged, offering nothing but the occasional nod or a mumbled agreement. It wasn't like him. Normally, even if he was quiet, he at least participated, but today he was a shadow of himself. Eliza's mind churned with possibilities, her heart sinking as she watched him withdraw further.

As the first session drew to a close, Matthew's voice softened, signaling the end. "We'll take a short break before Tori will join you for your next activity. Please take this time to stretch, get some air if you need it, and come back ready to continue."

Eliza breathed a small sigh of relief, eager for the chance to speak to Connor, to check in on him properly. She turned toward him, ready to ask if he wanted to go for a walk or grab some water, but before she could open her mouth, he stood abruptly and strode toward the exit, leaving Eliza frozen in her seat. Her hand dropped to her lap, her heart thudding in her chest as she watched him disappear through the doors.

She blinked, her stomach tightening with worry. What had just happened?

Her instinct was to follow him, but something held her back. Maybe it was the way he had left without a word, as if he didn't want her company. Or maybe it was the fear that pushing him would only make things worse. Either way, she stayed seated, torn between giving him space and her overwhelming urge to make sure he was okay.

"He'll be fine."

Eliza glanced up, startled by the voice beside her. It was Megan, another group member she hadn't spent much time with yet. Megan smiled softly, as though she had sensed Eliza's hesitation. "Sometimes you just need to be alone to work through things."

Eliza forced a smile, nodding. "Yeah, you're right." She wasn't sure if Megan was talking about herself or Connor, but it didn't matter. The words gave Eliza something to hold on to, something to focus on other than the gnawing worry that sat heavy in her chest.

"How are you doing?" Megan asked, her tone casual but laced with concern.

Eliza took a breath, trying to collect herself. "I'm okay. Today's just been... a lot."