Chapter 146

DAHLIA

That was all I needed to say.

Her eyes softened instantly—warm, worried… too awake now.

“Come here,” she whispered, opening her arms.

I sank into her without thinking, like gravity was pulling me into the only place left on earth that still felt safe. The moment her hand moved over my hair, slow and gentle, the dam inside me cracked again. I cried harder, loud, ugly, shaking sobs that made my chest hurt and my throat burn.

She held me through all of it.

Not asking questions.

Not rushing me.

Just being there.

Her fingers stroked my back the same way she used to when I was little and the world felt too big for me. “Shh… my baby… I’m here,” she murmured. “Let it out.”

I don’t know how long I cried… minutes, hours, forever… But eventually the sobs turned into small, broken breaths. My face was hot, sticky, and swollen. My head pounded. My heart felt scraped raw.

She cupped my cheeks, wiping my tears with her thumbs