Chapter 226

• ELORA
• The sun beamed down from the sky like it had no intention of being subtle. Heat shimmered off the pavement, and the air smelled like summer—warm asphalt, melting ice cream, and fried street snacks. It was the kind of day that made people want to be out, and that’s exactly where I was—with Gemma, my best friend and the only person who still made me laugh without trying too hard.
• We had decided to make a full day out of it. No work, no phones, no overthinking. Just two girls taking a break from the shitstorm that had become my life. We started at this indoor gaming centre downtown—Gemma’s idea, of course. I wasn’t exactly a gamer, but the excitement in her voice had made it impossible to say no.