ARIA'S POV - Day Five, Morning
Aria stood in the shower, letting the water run over her, and couldn't remember if she'd already washed her hair or not.
Day five. Five days since she'd left the estate. Five days since she'd seen his face. Five days of this endless, suffocating pain.
She'd promised Marcus she'd take care of herself. Had promised her mother she'd try to heal. But every small action....eating, showering, getting dressed....felt like climbing a mountain with weights tied to her ankles.
What was the point? Her mother was recovering beautifully. The treatment had worked. Mei would be discharged next week, fully healthy, with a future stretching out before her.
Mission accomplished.
Except Aria felt like she'd died to achieve it.
She turned off the water and stood there dripping, staring at her reflection in the foggy mirror. She looked like a stranger. Hollow eyes. Sunken cheeks. Bruises under her eyes so dark they looked like shadows.
