It’s hopeless.

Lily

As I stirred from sleep the following day, a heavy weight seemed to press down upon my chest, exacerbating the persistent ache in my heart. I tried to shake off the gloom that clung to me like a stubborn dog, attempting to coax a semblance of cheer into my morning routine. Yet, no matter how brightly the sun streamed through my window or how sweetly the birds chirped their melodies, the shadows within me refused to dissipate.

With a resigned sigh, I sat up in bed, running a hand through my tousled hair as I stared blankly at the wall before me. It was another day, but it felt no different from the one before it, or the one before that. Each morning seemed to blend into the next in an endless cycle of monotony and melancholy.

"I need to snap out of this," I muttered to myself, though the words felt hollow and devoid of conviction.

But deep down, I knew the truth. No amount of forced positivity could fill the void that Noah's absence had left in my life. I longed for his presence,