Monday mornings always came so soon. The weekend had been a nightmare she couldn't escape no matter how hard she tried. The sleepless night, the memory of her mom lying weakly on the hospital bed, and how she had masked her pain just to keep Avery from worrying. They all weighed on her. Every time she closed her eyes to sleep, her mother's face appeared, pale and drained of colour.
By the time she reached the office, the building simmered with the usual Monday energy, the air carrying the faint scent of coffee. The laughter and the giggles of the employees echoed through the corridors.
As Avery was about to step into her department, she caught sight of Elena walking through the hallway. She was holding a cup of latte, her smile still as bright as the starlight. Since they worked in diff
