ENTANGLED HEARTS

Months

ester s

ind grew sharper, and

en them never quite

idn't

ross paths, n

iced each ot

ow of a class they both didn't drop

angers with a

e screamed of th

used on

ng at an animal shelter. Smiled more with Maya.

taring at the rooftop from her window

ver we

y to risk that

she mis

how much s

w himself

fts. Weekends at home helping

arper. Softer only wh

n though he never unfollowed. Her lau

sed anyone si

n't wa

sure he de

taken time to

you like a song I f

e you. Some day

I wanted you to fi

And I just needed someone who would

I wanted to believe

now is the sile

hat's loude

ge. Didn't rip it

nto her journal.

h her as she shares all

him," Maya said one Saturday a

if I do," Ava

ile. "You'd stop checking

ooked

added. "But maybe... letting go of the an

dn't r

pulled out the hoodi

up with it, she put it

time

ver went back t

ht, Liam sat

on

been there

Stared at her conta

back, I'd do it all differently. I wouldn't l

ry

it s

wai

minu

ir

h

th

himself, st

itting in her room, phone in

eleti

repl

feeli

me world now-but on

d. Ava, who used to avoid the library at night to dodge hi

nspoken pact to orbit each o

thought she sa

s he kne

her said

t

She was starting to fee

nted to do but never felt brave enough for. She captured life now-

lens did

e found shadows th

n he was

ed her toward. And for the first time in her life, she talked abo

ther w

lls sh

she never

realized: Liam

r where the crack

chang

s sister and his mom. Took fewer shifts at night. Started

hbook page,

mem

like she used to when she teased him. Eyes softer

ore out

deserved to reme

y, it played

telling Av

ed you'll see all

ed her wh

ee you. I'm

d said

she

-to-face with Maya outside the campus

m, arms crossed.

's been a long

en asked, "Do you

k away. "I ne

the sil

ng, Liam. Do

said. "But I'm

, Maya didn't tell

nodded

va went throu

eos. Voice notes

of t

bad joke. In the backgroun

ed to it t

ssed record

it. But she spok

. But I hope you're finding your peace. And maybe

save

enough

kind of soft drizzle tha

r the science building where he

sl

us

look

sn't

crane sat

ly. Handwritte

But I'm learning to become

it to h

n't

't s

and full-for the fi