ARIA’S POV
By the time we left the clinic, the sky had already darkened into a deep, tired blue.
Kennedy’s cut had been deeper than it looked at first glance. What I thought would be a quick cleaning and bandage turned into stitches, antiseptic smells, and a waiting that stretched endlessly while I sat on a hard plastic chair pretending not to be anxious. The doctor had worked carefully, explaining every step, while Kennedy tried to be brave even though her eyes kept watering.
“It will heal nicely,” the doctor had said finally, tying the last stitch. “But she needs rest. No heavy lifting for a while.”
I nodded, relief washing through me. “Thank you, doctor.”
After that, everything felt slow and heavy. I dropped Kennedy off at her place first, walking her to the door and making sure sh
