AVA’S POV
The morning light entered softly through the sheer curtains, bringing in a pale glow over the kid's bedroom.
I watched the girls as they slept, their tiny chests beating in steadily, flooding me with warmth and hurt together
In the silence, I could almost pretend everything was normal like before their disappearance, before the endless moments of fear and the cold war lingering between me and Nicholas.
Then I heard it, my name.
It was as faint as a sigh, spoken from the other room.
That one word shattered the unsteady peace.
Air caught in my throat, and I froze mid-motion.
“Nicholas said, ‘Ava.’”
I wasn’t sure if he meant to say it loud enough for me to hear or if it slipped out unconsciously.
Either way, it felt like setting fire to dry grass, threatening to blaze
