Some memories are sugar-coated lies... others bleed when you touch them.

——

Lily’s POV

The moment I slipped into the back seat of the car, I felt the fragile tension in my spine snap. My back hit the leather, and I folded into myself, one hand cradling my swollen belly while the other shielded my face from view. The tears came without restraint.

The driver peeked nervously at me through the mirror. “Hi,” he muttered, his voice a pitch too high.

“Drive,” I said, barely louder than a whisper. But the weight behind the word must have been enough, because he nodded and took off without another word.

The sun...