Sophia’s P.O.V

I sat on the edge of the couch, my hands clasped together so tightly that my knuckles turned white. I was ready to say it out loud, ready to tackle the thing that had been gnawing at me for so long. But before I could even open my mouth, Nadia came over and pulled me into a hug, holding me so firmly that I almost broke down right there in her arms.

“You don’t need to do this, Sophia,” she whispered against my ear, her voice so gentle it almost made me ...