All Chapters of Rising From The Ashes: Chapter 91

The morning sun filtered through the blinds, painting soft lines across my bedroom floor. I lay there in silence, my thoughts louder than any noise outside. Everything I’d tried to keep together—my boundaries, my feelings, the carefully curated facade—I could feel it all slowly unraveling.I hadn’t spoken to Luca since the night of the gala. He hadn’t called, hadn’t texted. And I hadn’t either. It was easier this way, pretending that I wasn’t waiting to hear from him. That I wasn’t hoping for an apology. Or even an explanation.But pretending didn’t erase the sting.I sat up and reached for my phone. Still no new messages. Just an old thread at the top of my inbox—Luca. The last text from him was from the night before the gala.I’ll see you soon. Don’t forget to breathe.I scoffed and threw the phone back onto the bed.Breathing was exactly the problem now.When I finally pulled myself together, showered, and dressed, I stepped out into the quiet apartment. The kettle hissed faintly i