[Day 6, Dec. 25 – Wintermist Island]
Dave Carter
“What?!”
The word ripped out of me, loud and sharp, cutting through the celebratory hum of the hall.
Heads turned. People whispered.
But I couldn’t focus on anything except Ava standing before me, her eyes flashing with determination.
“You did what? You’ve got to be kidding me.”
“I’m not kidding!” Ava shot back, her voice steady, yet there was a slight tremble beneath her defiance.
“I’m just coming from the ship’s clinic. I’ve been feeling weak lately—I thought it was seasickness. But even after we got off the ship, it didn’t go away. So, I got myself checked.”
She reached into her golden clutch and pulled out a neatly folded piece of paper, thrusting it toward me.
“Here’s the scan result.”
I snatched it from her, my hands trem
