through fragments of dreams I could no longer piece together. The sun was already high, its rays filtering through the sheer c

ounds-my mother bustling in the kitchen, the faint hum of Lyara's music-were absent. The sile

nd a note on the counter, written

ceremony. Lyara is with me. You have

suffocating. But instead, they left me feeling untethered, as though the walls themselves were closing in. I

inside me. Memories of last night lingered, Ethan's words replaying in my mind. "You've been running for a long time. Maybe it's

sleek black car pulling into the driveway, the sunlight glinting off its polished surfac

eatures, given him a quiet confidence that hadn't been there before. He caug

t same smooth warmth that had once been m

was like being hit with a wave of emotions I had worked so hard to bury-pain,

that didn't quite reach his e

ha

unspoken words hanging heavy in the air. I crossed

" he said, breaking the silence

tone edged with sarcasm. "But I doubt you

familiar and foreign. "No, I didn

I asked, finally

, his gaze searching mine. "A

eatening to reopen. "There's nothing to

but insistent. "I know I hurt you, Allita. I mad

morning. "Caring? Is that what you call it? You

think you can just show up here after all these y

et. "I know I can't undo the past. But

u don't get to decide that, Adrian. You don't get to

y. "I'm asking for a chance. A chance to show yo

anted to hate him, to hold onto the anger that had fueled me for so long. B

ension. I turned to see Ethan stepping out of his truck, his expression hardening as h

here?" he asked, his

, though the tension i

dded. "I should go. But this isn'

the quiet morning. I watched as he drove away, my emotions a tangled mess. Ethan's

e asked, his

ed, the truth slipping o

n understanding. "If you

iveway, I couldn't shake the feeling that Adrian's return was just the beginning. The