ARIA
I woke up that morning with a smile already sitting on my lips.
For a few seconds, I stayed still in bed, staring at the ceiling, letting the feeling sink in. My heart felt light, full in a way I was not used to. Everything in my life felt like it was finally aligning, and for once, I was not waiting for the other shoe to drop.
“Luca is mine,” I whispered softly, my voice barely louder than my breathing. “And my mentorship will be ending today. I love my life.”
Saying it out loud made it feel even more real.
I got out of bed and went straight to the bathroom. The shower water was warm and soothing, running over my skin and easing the last bits of sleep from my body. As I washed my hair and let the water flow down my back, my mind wandered to how far I had come. Six months ago, I
