Breakfast was noisy, the kind of cheerful chaos Aqua usually loved. Her parents chatted animatedly with Charlotte and Hilda, while Aries and Kieran argued over something trivial. But Aqua felt the noise pressing against her temples, too bright, too loud for the heaviness in her chest.
She excused herself quietly and slipped away.
Outside, the morning air was cool and still. She pulled on her favorite chunky sweater, wrapped her hands around the warm cup of Charlotte’s tonic, and stepped onto the patio. The sun was just beginning to rise over the crest of pine trees surrounding the Sasaki grounds, painting the sky in soft gold.
Aqua sank into one of the patio chairs and let the silence settle around her.
After a few minutes, the door slid open behind her.
Kieran stepped out—and froze w
