章 53: Are you sleeping

Dinner time was excruciating. The atmosphere around the table was thick with tension, though I could manage it better than Elena. She looked like she wanted to bolt at any moment, her hands trembling slightly as she tried to eat.

My mother ate slowly, her eyes constantly flicking between Elena and me, scrutinizing our every move. The clink of silverware on porcelain was the only sound, amplifying the heavy silence.

I focused on my food, trying to keep the situation under control. The tension was a physical weight pressing down on us. Elena's discomfort was palpable, and it was crucial that my mother believed in our charade.

I caught Elena's eye a few times, offering her subtle reassurances with my gaze. Her eyes were wide with unease, but she managed to hold my gaze, drawing some strength from my silent support.

"More potatoes, Carmen?" my mother asked, her tone dripping with false sweetness. Her eyes bore into me, searching for cracks in our façade.