She watched Carl from across the clearing, her heart aching in a way that felt almost unbearable. He stood beside Enid, the two of them laughing softly over something she couldn’t hear, their connection palpable even from a distance. She tried to tear her gaze away, but it was impossible; the way his smile lingered when he looked at Enid was like a dagger twisting in her chest. She wanted to call out to him, to remind him she was there, but the fear of what his answer might be—if he even noticed her at all—kept her silent. Instead, she lingered in the shadows, fingers twisting anxiously in the hem of her shirt, wondering if her love for Carl would ever be enough to break through the bond he shared with someone else.