Scars She Carries, Love She Deserves
There was a pitcher of lemon water, a tray of cookies, and a nervous-looking bookseller smoothing out the event sign.
Elena stepped inside.
It smelled like paper and rain. The air buzzed with quiet energy, people chatting softly, flipping through her pages. She recognized no one, and that made it all the more real. Strangers. Readers. People who’d found something in her words worth showing up for.
When it was time, she stood behind the table. Her palms were damp. Jack gave her a small nod from the back row, Lila perched in his lap, waving.
Elena took a deep breath. Then she began.