“Claire, I need to talk to you,” he whispered urgently, pulling me away from the crowd.
His grip on my hand was firm, almost desperate.
As we slipped into a quieter corner, away from the joyful noise, I noticed the envelope in his hand.
It was crumpled, like it had been grasped too tightly for too long.
“What’s going on?” I asked, my voice barely audible above the distant music.