****

Then the next morning arrived,With her eyes still closed, Gabriella's brow furrowed in confusion as she reached out for Simon in the empty space beside her. Her fingers met only the cool sheets, confirming that he was indeed nowhere to be found.

Blinking away the remnants of sleep, Gabriella sat up in bed, her heart pounding with a mixture of worry and uncertainty. The room was bathed in the soft morning light, but Simon's absence left a noticeable void.

As she scanned the room, searching for any sign of him, a flurry of questions raced through her mind. "Where could he have gone? Was he avoiding their conversation from...