ANASTASIA’S POV

A month and one week without seeing Isaac, and dealing with my parents breathing down my neck. It was exhausting. Every interaction felt like walking through molasses, thick and suffocating.

Moving back home hadn’t helped, the walls seemed smaller, the air heavier and every glance from them was a reminder of my rebellion, my choices and my anger.

The only reprieve came during the brief phone calls with Isaac. Those were moments where the chaos faded, and it was just us, ...