Living in Her Shadow

re animated than Ava

g through his side of the closet. "Old friend

over her. She helped him pick out a shirt, a da

the nightstand. Ava glanced over. A

e from "

een so long! Dying to se

ht. So, the ghost

smelling of expensive c

suddenly too l

lling on the small things, the couple-the

ine. A framed photo of them at a music festi

cardboard box in th

y. Each item felt heavy, a small weight

ing, his eyes bright, a lingering scent of unfamili

iving room, the box h

he asked, gesturing

ning," Ava said, her v

ed, pulling out his phone.

voice, or the shadows under her eyes. H

small desk in their bedroom. Ethan's laptop was on the bed, open. His Instagr

exchange.

es Ava didn't understand. P

ntion of Ava. N

ke she di

ty-eighth birthda

om her few close friends. Flowers arrived from her parents. A

mpletely

r, a new song idea, a ban

him, her voice sharp with dis

a slightly squashed cake from a nearby bak

aid, his smile a little too

eepish expression, and felt nothi