Avery’s Point of View
Aliyah took a deep breath, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “Avery… your father is dead.”
The words hit me like a physical blow, and for a moment, the world seemed to tilt on its axis. My grip on her hand tightened as my breath caught in my throat. “What…?” I whispered, the single word filled with disbelief.
Aliyah nodded, her own tears threatening to spill. “I’m so sorry, Avery. I didn’t know how else to tell you.”
My vision blurred as the truth sank in, and a deep, gut-wrenching grief overwhelmed me.
Even though he had been far from the best father, distant and strict to the point of cruelty at times, he was still my father. The news of his death weighed on me heavily, and I found myself grappling with emotions I didn’t fully understand.
Aliyah’s hand re
