Avery's POV
The night air felt warm as a hand sunk into fresh laundry. Hundreds of fireflies lit the grass while the leaves quivered in the breeze.
The music from the hall dulled into a distant hum, barely rising above the rustling leaves.
I looked at Lena from the corner of my eye. She gave me a reprieve from my burdens, leaning against the cold metal railing, one hand lazily cradling a wine glass.
“It’s beautiful.” Lena craned her neck back as she stared at the moon, which was at its peak spilling red-colored light down upon us.
For a long moment, the only sound was our synchronized breathing, and it was the first silence all night that did not feel cruel.
Lena swirled the wine in her glass and glanced at me. “You look as if you’re waiting for someone to drag you back by the colla
