The amusement park was alive with laughter.
Children ran between colorful stalls, clutching balloons and cotton candy, their delighted squeals rising above the cheerful music drifting through the air.
From where I sat, I could see the Ferris Wheel, wondering if Mory and Rosa had ridden it instead. It turned lazily against the blue sky while roller coasters roared in the distance, carrying passengers who screamed not from fear, but exhilaration.
Everywhere I looked, people were smiling.
Except the one standing before me, refusing to listen. None of the liveliness around seemed to reach him.
Claude stood amidst the sea of happiness, looking strangely detached, as though a pane of glass separated him from the world around him.
As I sat watching him, the laughter surrounding us sounded distant. The bright colors felt muted. While everyone else seemed to be creating memories worth cherishing, here we were, engaging in a staring battle.
