Bab 282: We need to find a new place

The day had a strange, heavy tension hanging in the air, like the calm before a storm. Isabel and I sat in the living room, the quiet between us filled with unspoken worries. I couldn't focus on anything, not the TV show Isabel had half-heartedly put on, not the cup of tea I'd made but barely touched.

My thoughts were all tangled up with Carmen her safety, where she could be, what was happening to her.

Isabel had been watching me closely all morning, though she hadn't said much. She didn't need to. We both knew the weight of the situation we were in.

"How are you holding up?" Isabel asked finally, breaking the silence. Her tone was cautious, like she knew the answer wouldn't be great.

I glanced at her, trying to force a smile but failing miserably. "I'm... I'm trying. It's hard not knowing what's happening with Carmen."