Arabella froze.
Axel was walking toward her.
He was taller now—so much taller than she remembered. Maybe 4'7. His hair was cut in a messy fade. He wore a school uniform: sky blue shirt tucked unevenly into navy pants.
Her hands started to shake.
After five years. Five years of being apart, of being told she was crazy, of being erased from his life—her son was coming to her.
She spread her arms wide, her smile trembling.
"Axie," she whispered. "I missed you so much—"
He walked right past her.
Didn't even look at her.
Didn't pause.
Her world stopped.
The sound of her own heartbeat filled her ears, drowning out everything else.
"Arabella!"
Serena's voice; bright, artificially sweet—cut through the fog.
Arabella slowly lowered her arms. They felt heavy. Empty.
She slowly withdre
