With a cheer, Stephen broke the tension. "I suggest we drop everything and start eating. I'm absolutely starving," he stated, pushing back his chair. The simple act of sitting down at the table felt like a welcome shift in the heavy atmosphere, a small, shared comfort as we began the meal.
After a few quiet minutes, I noticed his expression cloud over, so I leaned in with a question softened by concern. "Stephen, are you okay? You seem troubled."
He met my eyes briefly. "I'm fine in some ways, but not in the most important ones."
"What do you mean by that?" I asked, a knot forming in my chest.
He pushed his plate slightly away, a look of profound weariness clouding his face. A heavy sigh escaped him, his gaze falling to his plate. "I wanted to go with them, more than anything. But I know I'd be a burden right now."
