Allen watched Patty silently, the air thick with unspoken understanding. He knew this next part of the story would be hard. He had never pushed her before, and he didn’t now. He simply sat, letting her find the words at her own pace.Finally, Patty exhaled, a long, shuddering breath, and began.“I… I think I can tell you now,” she said softly. “The last day. The day everything changed.”Allen gently placed a hand on Patty’s. “Whenever you’re ready.”Patty nodded and let her gaze drift toward the window. Outside, the sky was turning a soft gold, the kind of light that reminded her of summers long ago. “It started like any other day,” she said. “My parents were happy. My mom had just brewed coffee, and the house smelled like cinnamon toast and… I don’t know… hope. My dad was fixing something in the garage, like he always did, tinkering with the car, making little jokes as he worked. I remember feeling safe that morning. I really, truly did.”She swallowed hard, and Allen stayed quiet, s
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