CHAPTER ONE HUNDRED AND ONE - A Quiet Goodbye, A Loud Heartache

Nia Moreno huffed as she lifted the last cardboard box from her now-empty bedroom. The muscles in her arms strained, a reminder of how much her life had been reduced to these containers. She shuffled towards the living room, her footsteps echoing in the barren space. "This is it," she murmured to herself, setting the box down with a soft thud. Her eyes scanned the room, taking in the bare walls that had once held photographs and memories. Now, only faint outlines remained, ghostly reminders of what once was. The sound of keys jingling outside the door broke her reverie. Maria's familiar face appeared, her usual bright smile replaced by a somber expression. Her eyes were rimmed with red, betraying the tears she'd shed earlier. "Hey," Maria said softly, crossing the room to envelop Nia in a tight embrace. Nia melted into her best friend's arms, allowing herself a moment of vulnerability. "Thanks for coming," she whispered, her voice thick with emotion. As they pulled apart, a gentle