Aria's POV
I woke up to the sound of birds chirping softly outside the window, but the warmth of the morning did nothing to ease the cold dread sitting in my chest. Mia's face flashed in my mind, her lifeless eyes staring up at me, frozen in time. I squeezed my eyes shut, hoping to push the image away, but it was useless.
Mia was dead.
And it should've been me.
All the events of the past day washed over me as I sat up. Denderick had saved me, but he hadn't been able to save her. She had died because of me, all because she was my friend because she was in the wrong place at the wrong time. If it hadn't been for me, Mia would still be alive, smiling, laughing... breathing.
I clenched the sheets, my knuckles turning white. Why her? Why not me?
A small whimper snapped me out of my spi
