Chapter 57

• Zara
• The sun was beginning to slip past the horizon, leaving behind strokes of gold. I walked across the courtyard alone, hugging my books to my chest as the breeze teased loose strands of my hair against my lips. The magnolia trees swayed gently above me, their creamy blossoms rustling with every sigh of wind, releasing that sweet, almost lemony scent that always reminded me of childhood mornings in Aunty May’s garden.
• I paused beneath the tallest tree, letting my eyes flutter closed for a moment as I inhaled deeply. The day had felt endless, every class dragging like lead weights against my mind. My senses were still heightened from the past few days. Every whisper of a breeze felt like a phantom touch on my skin. Every scent seemed magnified, sharper, and clearer. It left me drained and jittery all at once.