The news of my return must've spread quickly so Rose didn't waste a second. Without hesitation, she rushed to where I was, her footsteps echoing faintly down the corridor before she burst into the room. The moment her eyes landed on me, she dashed forward and threw her arms around my body, clinging to me with such force it felt like she was afraid I might disappear again if she let go. Her embrace was suffocatingly tight, trembling arms wrapped around me as though her entire being poured into that one desperate act of reunion.
I stood frozen for a second, completely caught off guard by the intensity. I hadn't expected her to come at me like that.
"Where have you been, you idiot?" she demanded, her voice cracking ever so slightly, muffled as her face pressed into my chest. Her words were laced with anger, but more than that… there was worry.
"I'm sorry for leaving like that," I said softly, placing a gentle hand on the back of her head.
