Chapter 49: Violet

"You've been awfully quiet lately," Gran comments. "Everything okay at school?"

I throw a fleeting smile over my shoulder as I finish washing up the dishes in the sink. "Yup, everything's fine."

Even though I've turned back toward the soapy water, I feel my grandmother's warm hazel gaze on me as if assessing my words for the truth. Last week, I casually broke the news that Sam and I had decided to part ways. She had looked surprised before asking a few questions about the demise of our relationship. Instead of being forthright, I'd shut down the conversation before it could spiral out of control. I realize that she's trying to help, but there is nothing that dulls the pain of this breakup. It's like a throbbing wound that refuses to heal. I expected after a solid week of moping, the ache would have subsided by now.

It hasn't.

It still feels raw and surprisingly tender, which is ridiculous. It's not like we were together for that long. Losing Sam shouldn't feel like such a