Page 33 of The Yoga Teacher

The man behind it looked up, offering a nod. He was young, probably college-aged, wearing a gym polo with the logo embroidered on the chest.

“Looking to sign up?”

Hannah hesitated. “I… don’t know yet.”

He nodded, grabbing a pamphlet. “First time here?”

“First time anywhere like this,” she admitted.

He leaned on the counter. “Well, we do day passes if you want to check it out. No pressure.” He glanced toward the main floor. “There’s a beginner strength training class in twenty minutes if you want to try it. No commitment, no sign-up required.”

Hannah turned her head, looking toward the section he gestured to. A few people were already stretching, setting up near the racks of dumbbells.

Her fingers curled around the strap of her bag.

She could leave. She wanted to leave.

But she had spent days feeling weak, feeling wrecked, feelingdiscarded.

And she was tired of it.

So instead, she nodded.

“I’ll try it.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

Daniel

THIS WAS STUPID.

The last place he wanted to be washere.

The yoga studio loomed in front of him, the faint sound of meditative music drifting through the glass doors.

Unease prickled at the edges of his thoughts.

He should leave.

Hannah had frozen him out. Calls, texts, even fucking email, she was ignoring it all. It was like she had erased him overnight, like he had ceased to exist in her world.

And when he’d shown up at Mia and James’ place, thinking maybe—maybe—he could talk to her face to face?

Yeah. That had gone well. Daniel was still bruised.

He didn’t want to show up at her work. She took her job seriously—too seriously, if he was being honest.

All that time spent talking about "connecting generations" and "building community." He never reallygotit. But he knew she wouldn’t want him showing up there, making a scene.

And home wasn’t an option. She wasn’tthereanymore.

So he’d come here. To the Sunday morning class that Hannahnevermissed.

Even though he was almost certain she wouldn’t be here. Even though this place reminded him of everything that had gone wrong.

But the smallest chance shemightshow up—the tiniest flicker of hope that he could see her, say something,be heard—meant he had to try.

Daniel exhaled sharply and climbed out of the car before he could talk himself out of it.

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