LILA'S POV
College was exhausting.
The honeymoon phase of starting a brand-new academic year had evaporated in less than forty-eight hours, replaced entirely by a relentless avalanche of responsibilities. Assignments had already started piling up on my desk, syllabus checklists were overflowing, and the small off-campus café where I worked as a barista was busier than ever. Between the endless morning rushes of caffeine-deprived professors and students trying to pull all-nighters, my feet practically throbbed by the end of every single shift.
On top of all that, life at home was a constant, quiet hum in the background of my mind. Mom called every single evening like clockwork, updating me on the house, her job, and most importantly, David. My brother was slowly, steadily improving in re
