Ava woke up to the sun filtering through the curtains, but her heart was deep in the darkness. The news of her father's death hung heavily over her like a dark cloud, suffocating her thoughts and emotions. Beside her, Liam sat, his brow furrowed in concern.
“Ava, are you okay?” he asked, his voice gentle, as if she were a fragile glass bottle.
She turned to him, her voice low and almost inaudible. “I don’t know if I can face them, Liam. What if they hate me more now?”
Liam sat up, his expression softening. “You’re not alone in this. I’ll be right by your side. And nobody has any right to hate you. You've done nothing wrong.”
With a deep breath, Ava nodded, dragging herself to the bathroom. The thought of the days ahead pressed down on her shoulders, but she had to be strong. For her fa
