came t

y slept. Her body had rested, maybe, but her mind hadn't stopped moving-not once. Every time she closed her eyes, she

tly, reaching out

thi

d met co

art stu

whispered, alr

oom wa

he heard it. A faint sound from the living room. The s

own the hallway, her steps slow, careful, a

tood

e livi

is shoulders were slightly hunched, like he didn

his

wedding

pe

opped b

o his, eyes closed, smiling like the world had finally made sense. She remembered that m

ision

tening to escape. Tears gathered quickly, traitorously, but

t n

epped f

leep?" she a

hew t

ng cautious, unreadable. He lowered the album slight

" he

you were gone."

. I just... w

d, not que

y, gently, she reached out and wrapped her arms around him from

one-she thought he

fened and ste

of he

sn't harsh. It d

urt a

mured, the sou

rning to face her. "I didn't mean

Y

echoed in

ng a small smile that didn't

ief flickering

album. "You were loo

"I thought... maybe

d, even though s

Just... a feeling. Like I'm lo

wed. "That'

y. Too gently. "I just d

ettled bet

he in her chest could show on h

respond, he

otions that grounded her. She focused on the sounds-the crack of the eggs

table, two pl

for the salt when

t through the

called automatical

thew was

said, his voice com

lowed hi

door

stepped inside lik

osture. A soft smile tha

breath

re?" she demanded befor

her briefly, cool and assess

. "Matthew. I heard about th

's face

on, not dist

l and

e Ava had see

he said

ord wa

t it lik

asked, stepping closer. Too close

eplied. "Still trying

ympathetically. "T

d out-touch

and fa

ls dug int

" Ava said sharply. "Mat

nced at her. "

at

Isabella to come

her, already talking. Laughing softly. Their voic

the couch. Matthe

o c

ghtly, crossing her leg

t really. But I feel...

fort

odged in Av

m Isabella Moore. We've kno

d resting on his knee n

t wa

a s

aped loudly ag

he said, her voice shaking

eigning innocence. "I'

line," Ava snapped.

od abruptly.

d at him.

friend," he said. "

rrea

room

d, her voice rising. "And

l. "Ava, you're making this uncom

roken sound. "Help him?

frowned

id again, pointing

crackled w

d, then turned to