Page 19 of The Yoga Teacher

Daniel

DANIEL STOOD IN the dimly lit parking lot, still shirtless, his sweat cooling uncomfortably as his pulse thumped against his ribs. His head was empty and too full all at once, a static buzz drowning out any coherent thought.

She’s upset, that’s all.

We’ll talk, and she’ll get over it.

A sick feeling twisted low in his stomach, but he shoved it down. What he’d been doing with Sienna had nothing to do with Hannah. Nothing. It had never been about her.

She’s overreacting.

She just needs time to calm down.

“Hey,” Sienna’s voice was soft, airy, a gentle exhale of breath. She placed a warm hand on his bare arm. “You’re very ungrounded right now.”

Daniel turned to her, his pulse pounding in his ears. His skin crawled where she touched him.

“I don’t love you.” The words came out hoarse, uneven. “I don’t feel anything for you.”

Sienna blinked at him. Then she smiled.

“Love is an illusion of the ego, Daniel.” She tilted her head, her expression soft. Patient, like she was guiding him through some kind of spiritual awakening. “This isn’t about love. This was energy. Primal, divine energy.”

He felt like he might throw up.

Sienna stepped closer, her eyes glowing with serene certainty. “You need to let go of this guilt—it’s just ego attachment.”

Daniel exhaled sharply, looking away, his fingers flexing at his sides.

His wife just caught him cheating on her, and this woman was talking about ego attachment?

His head throbbed. His skin itched. He needed to not be standing here.

Sienna reached out, pressing two fingers lightly between his eyebrows. “Your third eye is so tight.”

Daniel flinched, jerking away as though she’d burned him.

She sighed, shaking her head. “You’re holding so much tension.”

“Just—don’t,” he snapped, raking a hand through his hair.

She sighed again, like she pitied him. Like he was a child.

“You’re resisting the truth.”

Daniel clenched his jaw. “And whattruthis that, exactly?”

“That everything happens for a reason.” Her voice was gentle, ethereal. “This moment was meant to be, Daniel. We were meant to connect in this way. Our chakras aligned at exactly the right time.” She gave a slow, blissful blink. “You were very open to me.”

His stomach lurched.

He turned away, looking out at the quiet, empty lot.

Hannah’s car was long gone.

A flash of something cold, unfamiliar shot through his chest. He didn’t know where she’d gone. If she’d gone home. If she was okay.

Of course she’s not okay.

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