By the time Ava stepped out of the airport, the weight in her body had settled into something deeper than tiredness.
It dragged at her shoulders, at the way she held her neck, at the slow pull of each step as she wheeled her luggage behind her.
The sky hung low, heavy with clouds that hadn’t decided yet whether to hold or break.
She paused just outside the terminal, scanning the line of cars pulling in and out, drivers leaning against doors.
Ava walked on. Her grip tightened on the handle of her cart as she stepped further out, away from the noise, like distance might make things quieter inside her head.
The first drop of rain landed on her wrist.
She stilled.
Another followed, then another. Within seconds, the sky gave in.
Rain came down fast, heavy, the kind that didn’t ease into
