Chapter 191. Surviving the Day

Aurora’s POV

The day at school had gone much better than I’d expected. I wasn’t sure what I had been dreading exactly—maybe the usual stares, the whispers that followed me like a shadow, or just the exhaustion of pretending like none of it bothered me. But today, none of it seemed to matter. The classes went by quickly, the interactions with my friends felt natural, and for once, I didn’t feel like I was suffocating under the weight of my own thoughts. Maybe I was finally getting used to the rhythm of things. Or maybe I was just too tired to care.

When the final bell rang, I wasted no time gathering my things, eager to leave. Caleb was already waiting for me outside, leaning against his car with that easy, relaxed demeanor of his, arms crossed as he watched me approach. “You look like you survived the day,” he remarked, his lips quivering in a half-smile.

“Shockingly, yes,” I replied, sliding into the passenger seat as he got in on the other side. “I’d say i