MELISSA'S POV

After the shoot, I finally had a day to myself. A break—one I didn’t even know I needed until the silence settled in like a heavy coat I couldn’t shrug off.

The next morning, I rolled out of bed with a groan. My legs ached, my shoulders throbbed, and my back protested every step I took. I shuffled to the mirror and stared at the girl staring back at me.

She looked tired. Not just physically—but somewhere deeper.

My curls were everywhere, and the bags under my eyes ...