Leo’s POV
Ever since we returned to Spring Lake, Arabella seemed to be in a world of her own. It was as if she was physically present but mentally miles away.
Since her twenty-first birthday, life had dealt her blow after blow. It hadn't even been eight months, and already it was turning out to be a terrible year for her. I wanted to be there for her, to offer her a shoulder to lean on, but that was proving to be a challenge. Arabella had built walls around herself, refusing to let anyone in.
I watched as Arabella retreated further into herself, her usually vibrant eyes now dull and distant. It was heartbreaking to see her like this, a shell of the woman she once was. I knew she was dealing with a lot, the weight of the world seemingly on her shoulders.
One night, I found her sitting
