Maya’s pov

The city hummed outside my window, a familiar, comforting sound now, not the overwhelming noise it used to be.

It had been a few days since I’d surprised Daniel at his office, since I’d met Lila. That conversation with Lila, her no-nonsense wisdom, it had really stuck with me. She made me feel like rebuilding wasn't just possible, but exciting.

I was at my brother’s s apartment today, helping him organize some old art books. It was a small task, something to keep my ...