At first, I flinched away, then moved closer and flattened my palm on the small mound that I had thought was just a pile of sand. Tears rolled down my cheeks, and I couldn't stop them from flowing freely.

Now, looking closely at it, I could see the weeds sprouting from the mound as if mocking me. The sight felt like a dagger piercing my heart.

My chest hurt so much it was as if my heart had been wrenched out, groaning from the loss of what it revolved around. That was exactly how I felt—a hollow emptiness.

All these years, I had been waiting for Lucas, hoping against hope...