Chapter 43

• The words on the screen held a weight that cut through her stubbornness, evoking a complex blend of emotions within her. The message was from her mother – a mother who was, undoubtedly, worried and concerned for her wellbeing. Unanswered calls and numerous messages bore witness to the lengths her mother had gone to reach out to her.
• "Honey, come back home. Everyone misses you. Jasmine's graduation day is tomorrow. We are truly sorry," the message read, a simple plea layered with the weight of familial longing. As Ava absorbed the words, a pang of pain and guilt coursed through her. The realization of the impact her absence had on her family was inescapable, tugging at the threads of her heart.
• Yet, even in the face of this emotional turmoil, Ava found herself paralyzed by a sense of helplessness. Guilt intertwined with her stubbornness, creating a web of conflicting emotions that left her feeling trapped. The room around her seemed to close in, the weight of her choices pressing against her chest, making it difficult to breathe.