Zion's POV
I always carried the weight of everyone I cared about. That was simply my nature, no matter how hard I fought against it. When they hurt, the pain carved itself into my bones. When they cried, their tears felt like acid in my chest. It made no difference if they understood the depth of my burden or wanted me to shoulder it.
The reality was that this existence left me completely drained.
Countless nights I dreamed of vanishing entirely. I craved the peace of shutting out the world, of finding refuge in complete isolation.
Yet I remained trapped.
Someone out there always required rescuing. And above all others, she needed me.
I pressed my palms against the kitchen counter, staring through the glass at nothing. Behind me, my mother moved silently between the dishes while my father nursed his coffee at the wooden table. Both watched me with the careful attention reserved for something fragile about to shatter.
