18. Broken Heart

Laura shut the door behind her, slowly sliding down its surface until she hit the floor. Hugging her legs tightly, her gaze was vacant and unfocused.

She struggled to articulate how she felt about Ned. But every time she pictured Kathy entwined with him, an ineffable ache filled her chest. It hurt, in a way that made her want to curl up and disappear.

Fresh from the throes of missing her mother, Laura now had to grapple with the agony of betrayal. She felt as if the universe was conspiring against her, dealing her one blow after another. The idea of Ned leaving was almost too much to bear.

As she sat on the floor, memories of them together flooded back. Ned, gnawing gently on her arm at night, his eyes darting up to meet hers every so often, checking if she was okay. When her complexion paled, he'd immediately stop, allowing her to tend to the small wounds herself.

Afterward, they'd gaze out the window together, watching the moon hang low in the sky. Laura would think of her mother th