Chapter 98

~Jasmine~ Are you certain you can do this?” Rosè asked for the umpteenth time, squeezing my shaking hands. I sighed, nodding. It has already been two days since I left Mav, and it feels like an eternity. “S…sure…” I let out, the words choking in my throat. The truth was, I was scared. Scared of the confrontation. Scared of reality. Scared of acceptance. All my life, I had tuned out my brain, refusing to acknowledge that my parents were gone for good—that there was no way on planet Earth they would come back. So, I avoided it. I tried to live in my own head, pretending it wasn’t real. But standing here now, it was a bitter pill to ingest. I turned around, swallowing hard. We stood in the quiet cemetery, the only sounds coming from the rustling leaves and the distant chirping of birds. The air smelled of damp earth and freshly cut grass. The sky above was dull and gray as if mourning with me. I don’t know if it was psychological, but… the aura… it smelt like death. I pulled the strings o