A Moment of Solace

Let's go back inside, Oslo, I say, standing up and brushing off the grass from my clothes. Oslo nods, and we head back into the building, the warm lights and sounds enveloping us once again. As we enter, I'm greeted by the concerned faces of my friends, who immediately begin to swarm around me. "Vesper, are you okay?" Emma asks, her voice filled with worry. "We didn't mean to react that way, it's just... we didn't expect it." I smile weakly, trying to reassure them. "I'm fine, guys. Really. It's just... I guess I wasn't expecting that reaction either." Kaito steps forward, a sheepish grin on his face. "We're sorry, Vesper. We should have been more supportive." I shake my head, feeling a sense of gratitude towards them. "You guys don't have to apologize. I know you were just surprised. And I'm sorry if I freaked you out." Oslo clears his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I think we should talk about this later, when everyone's had a chance to process. Why don't we take a break and reconvene in a few hours?" The group nods in agreement, and we begin to disperse, each of us retreating to our own thoughts. I glance over at Oslo, who's watching me with a thoughtful expression. "Hey, can I talk to you for a minute?" I ask him. He nods, and we step aside, out of earshot of the others. "What is it, Vesper?" he asks, his eyes locked on mine. "I just wanted to thank you for being understanding," I say, feeling a sense of gratitude towards him. "You didn't react like the others did." Oslo smiles, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'm not like the others, Vesper. I know what it's like to be different, to feel like you don't quite fit in." I nod, feeling a sense of connection to him. "I think I'm starting to realize that," I say, my voice barely above a whisper. Oslo's expression turns serious, and he leans in, his voice low. "There's something I want to tell you, Vesper. Something that might help you understand what's going on." My heart skips a beat as I wonder what he's about to reveal.