I cried until a raw, relentless helplessness filled every part of me, consuming me entirely before leaving me hollow. I didn’t know how long I’d been crying, only that my tears had eventually run dry. My throat ached, hoarse from the sobs, and my face felt swollen, marked by dried, scorching trails that itched against my skin.

As the sun began to rise, I stared at it blankly, feeling for the first time a sense of complete loss. I needed to talk to someone. Stefano, certainly. But more than that, I needed to speak with someone who wouldn’t automatically take his side. Emiliano was not an option.

A soft knock...