Something Feels Off
Even with all the cheering, smiling faces, and congratulations swirling around us, an unsettling feeling tugged at me, refusing to fade. The confetti—meant to symbolize joy and reveal—felt strangely heavy, as though it carried a meaning I hadn’t quite uncovered. People were laughing and chatting animatedly, yet their excitement seemed oddly disconnected from the undercurrent of tension lingering beneath the moment. Jake noticed my distraction and shot me a questioning look, though I could only shrug it off as I tried to focus on the last bits of confetti drifting to the ground, hoping the strange feeling was just nerves.
Something Feels Off
A Secret Exchange
As the celebration continued, I spotted Helen exchanging a knowing wink with Angela, the two of them sharing a smug, almost triumphant look that made my stomach tighten. Their reaction wasn’t just about the confetti—they were clearly reveling in something the rest of us weren’t aware of, some private joke or hidden detail fueling their amusement. Their hushed giggles stood out sharply against the cheerful noise of the room, as if they were operating on their own secret frequency, leaving me with the sinking sense that I was missing an important piece of the puzzle. The unsettling feeling deepened, impossible to ignore.
A Secret Exchange
