The Words That Shook Her

When Lydia stood from the polished marble floor, her legs felt unsteady.
Not because of the dance.
But because of the boy’s quiet voice still ringing in her ears:

“My mom told me to find you. She said you know where my sister is.”

For a moment, Lydia wondered if she had imagined it. The orchestra continued playing, couples kept swaying under crystal chandeliers, and conversations carried on effortlessly. But the boy—barefoot, frightened, with eyes too wise for his age—was gone.