[BRIAN]
I constantly remind myself not to meddle, not to stress about what's happening around me, and that it's not my responsibility to fix the mess.
But the more I repeat those thoughts in my mind, the stronger my desire becomes to resolve this messed-up situation. The more I feel compelled to get involved, the more I feel the need to protect her.
Why?
Why do I have such a strong urge to save her before her heart gets shattered? Why does it affect me so deeply?
A voice in my head, the most confident one, assures me that it's simply because I've known her for such a long time that it has become an instinct, especially considering she's the exact age my daughter would have been if she were still alive.
Every time I think about Valarie, an invisible knife pierces my chest. A sharp pai
