Aiden wiped the tears from his face, struggling to calm down when his phone suddenly buzzed in his pocket. He reached for it, then glanced down to see Alina’s name glowing on the screen. For a moment, he just stared, sniffling, not wanting her to hear his shaky voice. Still, he answered.

“Where are you?” came her worried voice.

“I’ll be there with you,” he whispered, forcing himself to sound steady.

Alina only hummed softly before ending the call, and the silence that ...