in bathroom

Standing at the sink in the empty boys' bathroom, Lucian splashed cold water onto his face, letting the coolness of it bite his skin. He needed something to shake him from the ache gnawing at him, something that might somehow freeze the emotions he knew were slipping through the cracks. As he took a deep breath and gripped the edge of the sink, his hands shook; he couldn't deny the tremor running through his entire body.

He'd ignored Avey. Walked right past her without so much as a glance. His body shuddered as he thought of her voice calling out to him, soft and vulnerable, the faint hope he'd seen flicker in her eyes. That single moment was branded into his mind.

"What have I done?" he whispered to himself, his voice hoarse as he buried his face in his hands. Every instinct in him had wanted to turn around, to give her at least some reassurance, to tell her he was sorry but he couldn't.