LUCA
I was standing outside my apartment, using my phone, when I heard the sound of the gate. I turned to see Aria walking in with slow steps, looking tired but still composed. The sight of her hit me harder than I expected. She looked like someone who had pushed through a long day, yet she still held herself together. I stood there watching her, wondering if she had seen the headlines about me and Karen. The thought made my chest tighten.
She paused when she saw me. Her eyes held a brief hesitation, and I stepped forward without thinking. The two of us stood there in an awkward silence, neither of us sure of what to say or how to act. I wanted to ask about her day. I wanted to explain the headlines before she formed an impression of them. I wanted to tell her I had not planned any of it
