The next morning, Emerald woke with an ache in her chest so heavy it felt as though it had seeped into her bones while she slept.
It wasn't the kind of weight that could be stretched away or walked off. No, it was deeper. She lay still for a while, staring blankly at the space above her, the events of the past days looping in an endless cycle.
It wasn't just Rick, or Adrien, or Alia. It was the whole damn weight of what she was supposed to be, what she had promised herself she would become, and the growing fear that she had already fallen short.
By the time she finally threw back the covers, the sun was still low in the pale morning sky. She already knew exactly where her feet were taking her.
The air outside was cold, nipping at her cheeks. She could see her breath as it puffed out into the chilly morning air before disappearing.
