Hamlyn moved swiftly through the trees, his heart heavy with concern for Sheryl. He knew she would be devastated, but seeing her walk away from the competition, her head bowed in sorrow, had left an ache in his chest that he couldn’t ignore.
He finally spotted her standing alone by a large oak tree, her shoulders slumped, eyes focused on the ground. The light that usually danced in her eyes was gone, replaced by a deep sadness that twisted Hamlyn’s heart.
“Sheryl,” he called softly as he approached.
She didn’t turn to face him immediately, but he could see her take a shaky breath. When she finally looked up, her eyes were wet with unshed tears. “Hamlyn…” Her voice was barely above a whisper, thick with emotion.
Hamlyn closed the distance between them, his eyes soft but serious. “Hey,” he said, his voice tender, “I know how much this meant to you. I know how hard you tried but you don’t have to cry.”