Chapter 35

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The ride home suddenly went quiet, filled with an undeniable amount of tension, that seemed to hang heavy in the air. I couldn't stop stealing glances at him out of the corner of my eye. I couldn't help but wonder what was on his mind. His mother has recently been diagnosed with cancer, and the weight of it all must have been drawing him into a whirlpool of emotions. Yet, he sat there with a neutral expression, his face pressed against his phone, seemingly hiding his pain.

The silence between us was suffocating, broken only by the sound of the tires rolling over the asphalt. My heart ached for Max, for the burden he carried silently. And I understand his behavior a little, he wants to carry this burden alone.

I couldn't help but steal another glance at him, noticing a flicker of sadness in his eyes, quickly masked by a forced smile. It was as if he was trying to convince himself that everything was okay, even when his world was falling apart. I wanted to reach out, to offer comfor