Chapter 7. Unable to Walk

Belle lay back on the bed, feeling the softness of the sheets against her exhausted body. As her eyes fluttered open, she reached out to find her phone—a habit she had developed over time. However, much to her dismay, it wasn’t where she usually left it.

In a tired daze, Belle was about to drift back to sleep when the phone started ringing loudly, jolting her awake. Searching the room with bleary eyes, she realized the sound was coming from the mini-table between the cream-colored sofas. Sighing in resignation, she knew she couldn’t ignore it any longer and reluctantly made her way toward the phone, her legs feeling weak and shaky from the late-night and morning activities with Ben.

When she finally answered the call, she heard the concerned voice of her cousin, Brie, on the other end. “Belle, are you okay?” Brie asked, her worry palpable.

“Yeah, I’m just tired,”