Autumn’s POV
The little bell above the coffee shop door rang as I stepped inside. The smell of roasted beans and warm pastries filled the air, and for the first time in days, I felt like I could breathe. It was quiet, calm, nothing like the storm in my head. I spotted Gina immediately. She was waving at me with a big smile, her blonde hair tied back, her eyes full of excitement.
“Autumn! Over here!” she called out.
I walked over, a little shy, but her energy made me relax. She pushed a cup towards me. “I already ordered you something sweet. You need it.”
I sat down and held the warm cup in my hands. “You didn’t have to…”
“Yes, I did,” she cut me off, grinning. “You looked like a ghost the last time I saw you. Today, I want to see you smile. No excuses.”
I let out a soft laugh even th
