KAYDE
The desert sun was already slicing sharp lines through the blinds when I got out of bed. Inka was still dead to the world, her face buried in the pillow, and she let out a soft groan as I moved, but did not awaken.
I left a bottle of water and painkillers on the nightstand, kissed her temple, and went downstairs.
Mom was already awake, with her suitcase sitting by the door. Despite my efforts to get her to sleep, she appeared to have slept very little. Her eyes were still puffy from crying when she looked up at me.
“Ready?" I asked, grabbing the SUV keys, and she said she was, then hugged me Good morning.
We drove in relative silence at first, with the desert road stretching endlessly ahead in the golden morning light. I kept my gaze fixed on the horizon as my mind wandered bac
