Ava

I stood beside my mother in the quiet corridor, arms wrapped around myself as if they could contain all the ache threatening to spill. The nurse had left moments ago, her voice still echoing in my ears. “He said he doesn’t want to see Ava.”

Why?

Why not me?

I looked up at Mom, my voice barely a whisper. “Mom…”

She turned to me, concern softening her features.

“Why doesn’t Caspian want to see me?” My voice cracked with the weight of it. “What did I do so wrong?”

She exhaled, brushing a stray curl behind my ear. “You didn’t do anything wrong, baby. Just let him be for...