Aurora’s P.O.V

Almost a week had passed, but the weight in my chest didn’t get any lighter. In fact, it got worse. Graduation was right around the corner—a moment I had waited for with hope and excitement—but instead of joy, I felt like I was carrying a boulder on my back. I kept telling myself it would all work out, that things would fall back into place with time, but that was a lie I’d been feeding myself every morning just to get through the day.

Every time I saw ...