“My name is Lila.” The auditorium fell into a hush so sudden and profound that it seemed to swallow every sound. The usual post-graduation chaos—the whispers, the shuffling feet, the nervous giggles of teens on the brink of adulthood—evaporated in an instant. For a heartbeat, it felt as if time itself had paused, waiting, stretching the moment into a fragile, almost sacred silence. My heart raced, pounding in my chest as if it could break through my ribs, desperate to keep up with the whirlwind of thoughts flooding my mind. Lila. The name echoed softly in my ears, carrying a...
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