All Chapters of Before We Broke: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

The cabin felt suspended in its own time, the rest of the world blurred at the edges. Outside, a gentle rain tapped against the windowpanes, blurring the line between forest and sky. Lila sat curled on the couch with her knees tucked under Anthony’s hoodie, a mug of tea warming her hands. Anthony was by the small wood-burning stove, coaxing a flame to life. His movements were slow, practiced, the kind of quiet skill that came from years of knowing how to be useful without making a show of it. She found herself watching the way his shoulders moved under his t-shirt, the small crease that formed between his brows when he concentrated. “Fire’s stubborn this morning,” he muttered, glancing over his shoulder with a grin. “Kind of like you.” Lila smirked, taking a sip. “Guess it’s in the air.” He finally coaxed the logs to catch, a soft crackle filling the cabin. The warm glow stretched across the floorboards, and for a moment, everything felt impos

The first faint rays of sunlight slipped through the curtains, casting a soft, golden glow over the cabin’s wooden floor. Outside, the world was still damp from the rain that had fallen through the night, the forest alive with the quiet sound of dripping leaves and distant birdsong. Inside, everything was calm, cocooned in the lingering warmth of the fire that had burned low before finally fading to embers.Lila lay nestled against Anthony’s chest, his arm draped protectively around her shoulders. She could feel the steady rise and fall of his breath, slow and even, a steady rhythm that soothed the restless flutter in her own heart. The scent of cedar and something uniquely him — a faint trace of pine mixed with a subtle musk — enveloped her senses, grounding her in the moment.The weight of his body against hers was comforting, like an anchor keeping her tethered to something real and unshakable. The worries and uncertainties of the world beyond these cabin walls felt dista

The days following their escape to the cabin felt like a fragile dream — a sanctuary carved out of time where only Lila and Anthony existed. But reality, as relentless as the rising sun, began to seep back into their lives, casting long, creeping shadows across the bright moments they had shared.The morning after their return home, Lila awoke to the familiar hum of the house — her parents moving about, the distant drone of morning news, the clatter of dishes in the kitchen. Yet beneath the routine sounds was an undercurrent of tension she hadn’t anticipated. The world outside their secluded weekend had not paused; it had moved on, and with it, the delicate bubble they’d lived in now threatened to burst.At school, the shift was subtle at first. Whispers in the hallways, quick glances that stopped when she met their gaze, a half-smile that didn’t reach the eyes. Lila felt it all — the invisible eyes that weighed down her shoulders, the unspoken judgments that pressed against

The first morning back felt surreal. The warm sunlight slipped through the sheer curtains, casting golden ribbons across Lila’s bedroom walls. She lay still for a moment, letting the softness of the sheets cradle her and the fading warmth of the cabin weekend settle beneath her skin like a secret. The quiet hum of her house—the faint ticking of the clock, the distant clang of dishes in the kitchen—reminded her she was no longer wrapped in the safe bubble of the mountains. Slowly, she opened her eyes. The room was awash in morning light, peaceful and unchanging. But inside, everything felt different. The lingering scent of cedarwood, the memory of Anthony’s touch, the weight of whispered promises—all pressed gently, insistently against her heart. Her fingers twitched, reaching instinctively for the phone on her nightstand. Three new messages blinked in succession. Good morning, angel. I’m still here. Always. A smile lifted t

The first few days after their weekend at the cabin felt like the gentle aftermath of a storm — calm, warm, but charged with something lingering just beneath the surface. Lila woke each morning to the sun spilling through her window and the familiar buzz of her phone, anticipation curling in her stomach like a secret.Her fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked the screen. There it was — Anthony’s name lighting up the display, waiting for her to open it.Good morning, angel. Couldn’t sleep thinking about you.A soft smile tugged at her lips, the nickname folding around her heart like a whispered promise. She typed back, her words light but honest: You’re on my mind too.Their conversations stretched through the day — sweet texts, playful banter, little confessions hidden in emojis and half-spoken thoughts. She felt seen, cherished, loved. But not everything was so simple.Beneath the warmth of Anthony’s messages, another voice seeped through her phone’s screen