POV: Lucian Voss

I walked slowly to my car, as if my legs no longer wanted to carry me forward.

Each step felt heavier than the last, like the weight of everything I had lost was pressing down on me with every movement I made.

When I finally reached the car and climbed inside, I shut the door behind me and sank into the seat.

And then it all hit me—everything I had been trying to hold back.

The moment I let out my first shaky breath, I realized something was wrong. I didn’t even notice the tears at first. Not until I tasted the salt of them on my...