[AVA] “Listen up, sweetie,” mom says, grabbing my hand and intertwining our fingers. “I’m your mom, and all I want is what’s best for you. Is that so hard to believe?” I’m dying to respond: yes, that’s exactly what I think. But instead, I let out a sigh and prop my elbow on the table. “Mom, what’s on your mind?” I had only been in the kitchen for a mere five minutes when mom turned into a protective mama bear. Actually, it’s the perfect timing for her to butter me up, considering dad is out for his morning walks and Max is still asleep in the backroom, which is just a fancy name for our small storage space. The ache of nostalgia hits me hard when I think about our old home, which was at least fifty times the size of this tiny apartment. Our bathroom alone could fit this entire room, and our backyard overlooked a breathtaking lake. We even had our own landing space for the private jet nearby. But that’s all in the past now, and I know I need to let go of those memories instead of h

[BRIAN]I didn’t know what to say.Hell, I didn’t know what to think.Honestly, my thoughts were a jumbled mess, completely scattered. I couldn't make sense of it all. It felt like my mind was being pulled in different directions, unable to keep up with the complexity of the situation."Wait, are you telling me you already knew about Sean?" I asked, struggling to comprehend why she would choose to date someone who wasn't even attracted to women. I mean, how did that even work?I needed to do something, anything, to distract myself from this overwhelming mess. Restlessly, I began pacing the room, desperately trying to grasp the reality of what was unfolding before me.Meanwhile, Ava fidgeted with her fingers, avoiding eye contact, resembling a guilty child caught red-handed. "It's... it's complicated," she finally admitted, and I couldn't help but scoff at her response."Complicated?" I paused in my pacing, giving Ava an irritated look as my frustration escalated. "Yeah, no kidding."A

[AVA]The quietness of the room felt suffocating, almost too heavy to bear. The only sound was the gentle beeping of the machines, marking each heartbeat and breath of Kian. I took a seat beside his bed, feeling the weight of exhaustion creeping up my spine. Brian sat across from me, looking stoic and silent, lost in his own thoughts.Sean came in and joined us, his eyes bloodshot and his face haggard. We sat in a solemn silence, each lost in our own thoughts about Kian’s condition. Sean and Brian discussed his state in hushed tones, occasionally glancing at Kian. I couldn’t help but feel a lump in my throat as I watched Kian’s chest rise and fall steadily, the machines beeping a reassuring rhythm.Time seemed to stretch on endlessly, and I found myself staring at Kian’s still form, willing him to wake up. But the medication had rendered him unconscious, and we could only wait and hope for him to come back to us.Max arrived about half an hour after Sean did. He sat next to Kian, and

[AVA]I stumbled backward, my heart hammering against my chest. The sound of my mom's voice, high-pitched and panicked, filled my ears. I could barely make out her words, but the tone was enough to set my nerves on edge.I rushed toward my bedroom, fumbling with the knob as I tried to get inside. I could hear her footsteps approaching, getting closer and closer.Finally, I got the door open and slammed it shut behind me. My mom was yelling my name now, and I could hear her pounding on the door.I stood there for a moment, catching my breath and trying to process what I had just witnessed. This was not real. This was not real. This was not real. I kept chanting to myself. My mind was racing, and I couldn't seem to focus on anything.Then, the reality of the situation hit me like a ton of bricks. Beau Edwards, my best friend's father, was having an affair with my mother. My stomach turned at the thought, and I felt sick to my core.I looked around my room, trying to find something to ho

[AVA]I woke up to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. It took me a moment to remember where I was, and then the events of the previous night flooded my mind. I sat up and looked around, taking in the rustic charm of the cabin.I still couldn’t believe he brought me to his safe haven, or at least, that’s what Val used to call this place. When he told me yesterday that he had a surprise for me, I never expected it to be this cabin. But it was a pleasant surprise, so much so that I couldn’t hold back my tears as Brian struggled with the lock and key.I stretched and yawned, feeling the warmth of the morning sun seeping through the window. This was already proving to be a welcome change from the clusterfuck of the previous day. I had no clue how I would have dealt with everything if I were back home, from confronting mom without having a meltdown to looking at dad’s obliviousness without feeling like I wanted to murder someone.So instead, I took up Brian’s invitation and pack