The first morning without Noah felt wrong.
Ava noticed it before she even opened her eyes.
Something was missing.
The house sounded different.
Quieter.
Emptier.
Lonelier.
For a few seconds, she lay still in bed, confused by the strange feeling.
Then she remembered.
Noah.
The realization hit immediately.
Like a punch to the chest.
Not enough to hurt.
Enough to ache.
Ava groaned and buried her face in her pillow.
Day one.
It was only day one.
She was already miserable.
The fact annoyed her.
A lot.
Breakfast was terrible.
Not because of the food.
Because of the empty chair.
The chair Noah always sat in.
The chair that remained painfully vacant.
Sarah talked about gardening.
Richard talked about work.
Ava nodded occasionally.
Pretended to listen.
Pretended to parti
