Silent Departure Alvara I opened my eyes again, more aware than before. The pain was still there, but it had dulled into something heavier , a thick ache buried beneath exhaustion. My limbs felt weighted, as if gravity had chosen me specifically.Instinctively, my hand moved to my stomach.Even though I already knew.The emptiness was no longer a fear.It was a fact.I tried to cry, but nothing came at first. My chest tightened, my throat burned, yet the tears stayed trapped somewhere deeper. I turned my head slowly.My mom was asleep beside the bed, her head resting on her folded arm, her body bent at an uncomfortable angle. She must have refused to leave. Strands of her hair fell across her face, and even in sleep, worry lines marked her forehead.Leo sat farther away, alert. His chair was angled toward the hallway like he was guarding me from something unseen. His jaw was tight. His eyes were restless.A soft knock touched the door.My body jerked instantly.Leo stood before the
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