Chapter 51

The ache in my chest had become a constant companion these past weeks. A month had passed since I told Nathan I needed space. At the time, it felt like the right thing to do, a necessary step to see him for who he truly was. But now, the silence between us was deafening.

I’d tried reaching out. A text here, a voicemail there, tentative gestures to bridge the gap. But each attempt was met with nothing. No responses, no signs of life. He hadn’t shown up at my door, hadn’t called back, hadn’t given me any hint of where he stood.

The absence gnawed at me, an invisible weight pressing down on my chest. I tried to distract myself by spending more time with Alex and Liam.

Liam’s recovery had been nothing short of miraculous. Watching him play with Ava was like seeing sunlight breaking through storm clouds. Their laughter rang out, bouncing off the walls as they built block towers and raced toy cars across the floor. Ava clapped when Liam’s tower stood firm, her grin