LOGINARIELLA I kept watching Leon and Asher's figure even when they had disappeared completely when Sia asked, “So you're not a morning person, are you?” I turned toward her. “I am. But not if I have to exercise first thing.” “Not at all?” “Absolutely not.” She laughed. “And Asher's trying to g
ARIELLA "No," I said shaking my head. "I am not doing it anymore." "You barely started," Asher said. "I'm finished." "You ran for three minutes." "It felt like two years." Leon laughed so hard he nearly fell over. "Mom." "No." "Mom." "No. No, no." "You look and sound exactly like Leon wh
ASHER "I think... yeah. I mean, I guess someone who can help me deal with this. Give me ways to deal with this." Ariella explained herself. I tightened my hold on her hands. "I'm here." She looked at me. "Nobody deserves your thoughts. Nobody deserves your truth. Nobody deserves you more than
ASHER Ariella had the right connections to get whatever drugs she could pump into herself if she wanted to. She had the means to do it, and I wasn’t going to let her. “It’s gotta stop,” I told her point-blank without sugar coating it. She narrowed her eyes at me. “I know about your little alcoh
ASHER I stayed patient... or at least I tried. Finding out about the alcohol was the moment that really terrified me. Because Ariella wasn’t like that, she wasn’t reckless and she barely drank unless it was socially, and even then she never lost control of herself. But grief changes people. Loss
ASHER As soon as Leon disappeared, the room became quieter. I slipped my hands into my pockets. “How is he doing?” I asked. Sia’s face softened immediately. “He’s doing great,” she said honestly. “Just as he said himself. If he keeps progressing like this, I’ll contact the school so he can sit
ARIELLA I hear the sound of drilling from the hallway, metal creaking, and low voices murmuring between themselves. The house feels different today. Like, not just the people, but the house itself is bracing for something. Maria gently nudges the plate toward me. “You should eat. Ariella, you loo
ASHER God was on my side. Yes, I believe in God, in case you were wondering.... And I say God was on our side because, through the haze, I thought I saw Mikey move, and I saw him moving faster than I had ever seen him move before. The young guard, the young soldier, tackled and curled his body aro
ASHER I know she wants me. I know she wanted me to finish what had already started earlier. What was about to happen with me inside her. She is practically aching for it. However, this is not going to happen as I had planned before. With no time to lose, I'm going to take it hard and fast… but I’l
ARIELLA Asher spent the remainder of his day with us yesterday, and it felt like home for once. home in the real sense of the word, because he was there and we were all together. For once, I felt like it was our home. I felt at home. But then, at around three in the morning, while in bed, asleep,






