The last day of finals felt like the final thread holding Rayla together. She had pushed herself to the brink, juggling her emotions, her responsibilities, and the weight of everything that had happened over the past few weeks. Zack had left two days ago, his cast removed and his treatment underway, leaving Rayla with a strange mix of relief and emptiness. She had done it—she had stayed by his side, supported him, and helped him through the worst of it. But now, as she turned in her last paper, she felt the exhaustion crash over her like a tidal wave.
Her breath was shallow as she gathered her things, her vision swimming with dark spots that refused to clear no matter how many times she blinked. She tried to steady herself, gripping the edge of the desk for support, but the room seemed to
