Eva rejoiced when Lucas accepted her feelings after breakfast. She would not have gotten this far without him, yet something felt lacking. Her day went by in a daze as she played with Arya and held little Ember in her arms. Everything should be perfect. Her future was secure, her every need tended to, and someone she loved within reach.
Then why did she feel something sour in the bottom of her stomach and her dinner taste of ash instead of the braised meat before her? They went to bed as usual, but she stared at the canopy above their bed in silence. She should feel free and ready to stand up for their future, yet everything felt too easy.
'Can I really say I am growing when I have earned nothing for myself?'
