|| Lilac's POV ||

The day had been long, too long. My body felt heavy, my mind a tangled mess of emotions I couldn’t quite unravel. I skipped dinner, unable to stomach the thought of food, and retreated to my room, collapsing onto the bed with a sigh. The cool sheets were a welcome relief against my skin, but they did little to ease the storm raging inside me.

Mom had knocked on my door multiple times, her voice soft and concerned.

“Sweetpea, are you okay? Do you need ...