Synopsis

The air in the chamber was thick with expectation, yet Hugh felt only a dull ache behind his eyes. Across the table, the committee members sat impassive, their faces reflecting the harsh glare of the overhead lights. Each question felt like a carefully aimed stone, chipping away at the carefully constructed facade he’d maintained for so long. He offered answers, precise and measured, but they seemed to hang in the air, unanswered, failing to bridge the chasm between his words and their suspicion