Chapter 52

• LEAH
• The two days leading up to the fair seemed to pass by in a blur, almost like a fleeting dream – or rather, a nightmarish one. The workload was so immense that I would return home and simply collapse onto my bed, still fully clothed, and even with my shoes on. However, the real nightmare was that Pete seemed to be avoiding me.
• Whenever we had to interact, he maintained his politeness, but his absence served as a stark reminder of how much I missed him. I dreaded the thought of us returning to being strangers, as that was the last thing I wanted. I yearned for him to be close, for us to work through our issues, and for the opportunity to fall in love with him without constantly feeling like I was betraying myself in the process.