LEAH
“You didn’t have to, Cleo. Seriously,” I said, stepping out of the mansion into the cool morning air. The sun was just beginning to rise, casting a soft glow over the driveway lined with polished stone.
Cleo was right beside me, arms crossed, a sweet smile on her face, with a hint of mischievous glints hiding behind her eyes.
She’d insisted on coming all the way to see me off, and though I wasn't exactly in the mood for goodbyes, I couldn’t deny the small comfort it brought to know someone cared enough to do this. To show up, to just be there. It chipped away at the heaviness in my chest, even if only by a fraction.
“Why wouldn’t I?” Cleo shot back, eyebrows raised like I’d said the most absurd thing. “I didn’t see you off last time, and—” she paused, reaching into the pocket of h
