Knocking With Nerves
The more I walked to their front door, the more anxious I felt. In the pit of my stomach, there was a mixture of guilt and worry. When no one replied, I knocked more loudly after first knocking quietly. I felt like an intruder as I stood there, unsure but driven to move ahead. My pulse pounded while I waited, fearing that neither Lisa nor Mark would respond. What would they disclose, and what would I say?
Knocking With Nerves
A Stressed Greeting
Mark was standing there looking tired and preoccupied when the door eventually opened. It took him a time to acknowledge me. “Oh, hi… come in,” he murmured, a little hesitantly. His normal poise was shattered, and his manner seemed strange. I saw the thin lines of concern engraved on his face as soon as I entered. The mood in the room was charged with unspoken words. My attempt at a friendly hello was flattened by the strain.
A Stressed Greeting
