CHAPTER THIRTEEN – THERE IS STILL HOPE FOR BOTH

The night continued in a blur of music, laughter, and dance. Rebecca lost track of time, lost in the magic of the masquerade. She danced until her feet ached, laughed until her sides hurt, and felt more alive than she ever had before. As the band announced the last dance of the evening, Rebecca found herself back with Kai and her other friends. They formed a circle, linking hands as they spun and twirled to the music. When the final notes faded away, there was a moment of hushed silence before the square erupted in applause. Rebecca joined in, her heart full to bursting with joy and a bittersweet longing for the night to never end. As the crowd began to disperse, Rebecca and her friends made their way to a quiet corner of the square. They were all flushed and breathless, their eyes bright with excitement behind their masks. "That was incredible," Lily sighed, leaning against Max's shoulder. "I've never experienced anything like it," Rebecca agreed, her voice filled with wonder. K