Victoria stood in the parking lot, the afternoon sun casting long shadows as she loaded her groceries into the trunk of her car. Her mind was still swirling with the conversation she had with her mother, the weight of her worries pressing down like a heavy cloak.

As she closed the trunk, she heard a familiar voice call out. “Hey, Victoria!”

Turning, she saw Zander leaning against a nearby car, his arms crossed casually over his chest. He looked relaxed, a stark contrast to the chaos that often filled her life. His reserved demeanor drew her in, and she felt an inexplicable sense of relief wash over her.

“Hey, Zander,”...