104. HUSH MELODY!

MELODY’S POV Two days. Maybe the meeting was two days long. That was what I kept telling myself, clinging to the excuse like it could stop the ache in my chest. But even knowing I’d messed everything up, really messed it up. There hadn’t been a single call. Not even a follow-up text. Nothing. “Why don’t you just visit if you’re that worried?” Naza said gently as we sat in the café, steam curling up from our cups. “After all, you guys are family.” The word family landed heavier than it should have. Still… it was a solid plan. One I hadn’t let myself consider because I was terrified she wouldn’t want to see me. “You know,” I said suddenly, standing up so fast my chair scraped the floor, “you’re starting to make sense, Chinaza. Thank you. See you next week!” She blinked at me as I grabbed my coat and bag, already halfway gone. The taxi ride felt endless. Four hours of staring out the window, replaying everything I wished I could undo. When we finally arrived, I stepped out into t