Weeks passed, and life slowly began to settle again.

The hospital had finally become a memory instead of a nightmare. The reporters disappeared from the gates, the town calmed down, and the Denovan household returned to its normal rhythm. Jamie was healing well, Anika had gone back to school, and for the first time in a long while, everyone was breathing normally.

Maya felt like the sun was finally shining on their family again.

She and Elias spent most of their days planning, choosing, preparing because in just two days, they would finally be married.

The morning sun crept through the curtains of Maya’s apartment. She blinked slowly, stretching her...