Eliza's pov
The morning had passed in a haze, the excitement of my mother's planned get-together overshadowed by the sinking feeling in my chest. I couldn't shake the image of Cavin and Natalie, their laughter and whispers intertwining like a cruel melody. I wanted to brush it off, to ignore the twisting knot in my stomach, but the memory lingered like an unwanted shadow.
As I sat in my room, my thoughts spiraled, and the bright sunlight streaming through my window felt too harsh. I wanted to forget, to escape the tumult in my mind. Just then, there was a knock on the door.
"Hey, Eliza, can I come in?" Nikolai's voice was warm, cutting through the silence like a lifeline.
"Yeah, come in," I replied, attempting to put on a brave face.
Nikolai stepped in, his usual cheerful
