The morning was cold, brittle with the kind of autumn air that seemed to slice through Olivia’s jacket no matter how tightly she hugged it to her frame. Liam walked beside her, hands stuffed into his coat pockets, glancing at her every few steps. His concern was palpable, unspoken yet heavy enough to weigh on her.
She felt his gaze again and turned away, her eyes fixating on the sidewalk. The cracks beneath her feet mirrored the splintered control she felt over her life—fractured and widening. Every attempt to steady herself only seemed to make the fissures deepen.
“You’re quiet,” Liam said finally, breaking the silence.
“I’m fine,” she replied too quickly, the words tumbling out like a reflex.
Liam stopped walking, his expression soft but resolute. “No, you’re not.”
She paused, her b
