Monica's POV
The gentle touch of a hand on my shoulder stirred me from my troubled sleep. I hadn't even heard Kayla arrive with Austin. My eyes fluttered open to find Natalie perched beside me on the bed, her face etched with concern in the soft glow of a single lamp.
"Hey there," I murmured, pushing myself upright against the pillows. The weight of earlier events crashed back into my consciousness, bringing with it a wave of fresh sorrow.
"What's going on, sweetie? Kayla mentioned you were already in bed when she got here with Austin. She came to check on you but didn't want to wake you. She also noticed the tear stains. Did Morris say something stupid? First fights happen, you know," Natalie's voice carried that reassuring steadiness that always managed to calm my storms.
I shook my head, feeling the ache in my chest intensify. "It's not just a fight, Natalie. What happened today was... devastating."
