VERA'S POV

I thanked my neighbor in New Orleans for helping me find a place like I had asked. She invited me over for a drink, but I politely turned her down with the excuse that I needed to unpack, even though I hadn’t brought any of my belongings.

When she finally left me alone, I lay down on the bed and stared blankly at the ceiling. The house felt cold, not physically, but emotionally. It held nothing meaningful, just silence, loneliness, and a heavy emptiness.

Did I make a mistake by coming here?

I thought losing a child before was painful, but this? This time, I could feel the...