CHAPTER NINETY: MORE THAN EVER

Sarah dragged herself to the couch, her body feeling heavy and numb. She lay down, clutching a pillow tightly as if it could somehow absorb her pain. Her tears soaked the fabric, and she cried until she had no tears left. As the hours passed, exhaustion took over. She fell into a fitful sleep, her mind plagued by nightmares of loss and betrayal. Each time she woke, the reality of her situation hit her anew, a fresh wave of grief washing over her. The next morning, Sarah awoke with swollen eyes and a pounding headache. She felt hollow, like a shell of her former self. She forced herself to get up, moving through her apartment in a daze. She tried to eat but found she had no appetite. Even drinking water felt like an insurmountable task. She reached out to Alana, her voice barely a whisper as she spoke. “Can you come over? I… I need you.” Alana arrived within minutes, her concern evident as she took in Sarah’s disheveled appearance. “Oh, Sarah,” she said softly, pulling her into a co