The alarm went off before the sun was even fully up, slicing through the quiet with a soft, insistent beep.
Mia blinked awake, her chest heavy, her head pounding. Another day. Another reason to pretend everything was fine.
She sat up, brushing a hand through her hair, when her eyes caught the folded piece of paper on the nightstand.
Liam’s handwriting.
She hesitated, then picked it up.
“Didn’t want to wake you. Had an early meeting. Eat something before work.
– L.”
For a second, her chest tightened. Something about the simple note the casual thoughtfulness made it worse.
Because that was Liam. Always halfway there. Always meaning well but never quite showing up.
She crumpled the note in her fist and tossed it into the trash.
The paper hit the bin with a soft thud final, sharp.
