Rachel dragged her suitcase all the way to the nearest bus stop outside the Gray family's house.
She sat on the cold bench, her mind blank, her body heavy with exhaustion.
Then suddenly, her phone rang.
For a moment, she just stared at it, dazed, as if she didn't even recognize the sound. When she finally glanced at the screen, the name flashing there made her throat tighten.
Josephine.
Her nose stung. Tears threatened to fall, but her eyes were too dry to let them out.
She pressed the answer button, and the familiar voice rushed in like a wave of warmth.
"Rachel, are you at the Gray family's house? Kieran and I are on our way over!"
And then it hit her. Today… was her birthday. She had invited Josephine and Kieran to celebrate with her.
But now, there was nothing left to celebrate.
Her lips parted, and when she spoke, her voice carried a weight of bitterness, every word like glass cutting her throat.
