MELISSA’S POV

The night felt quiet, unusually so, like even the air was holding its breath. I had just ended my chat with Xavier, and though my phone screen had gone black, I still held it against my chest as if the warmth from his voice lingered there. He was laughing again, smiling through the words he texted, and even though we weren’t face to face, I could almost imagine the curve of his lips, the softness that had returned to his eyes lately.

That was when the thought came to me. ...