Ava let her head sink into the couch cushions, the quiet of the house wrapping around her like a heavy blanket.
For a moment, it was almost normal. Almost. Then the memories came crashing in.
Candlelight. Warm, golden.
A diamond ring catching the light. Adam slipping it on her finger.
And then… another presence. A shadow at the edge of her mind. A laugh she thought she knew.
Who… was that?
Her chest tightened, her pulse thumping in her ears. The warmth of the memory didn’t feel right. Something was wrong—too many people, too many layers. Vanilla candles. A door creaking. A soft voice she didn’t recognize.
Ava pressed her palms to her temples, teeth gritted. Pieces of a puzzle she didn’t know she’d started clicking together, but each piece made her stomach churn with dread.
* * * *
