Caspian

I woke up to emptiness.

The duvet beside me was flat, untouched. Cold. And she was gone. Ava had left.

I wasn’t surprised—how could I be? After what happened last night, after what I said, or didn’t say… was she really supposed to stay?

I stared at the vacant space beside me for a long second before dragging a hand down my face. The silence in the room felt louder without her soft breaths, her subtle movements in her sleep. I sighed and pushed off the bed and made my way to the bathroom.

The bathroom mirror fogged slightly as I brushed my teeth, steam curling around me from...