The first week back at school had been strange for Hazel. Every morning, she walked through the front doors of the school building with a mixture of dread and hope. The routine was the same: she would glance around the bustling hallways, searching for Ace’s familiar face. But each time, she was met with disappointment. Ace was absent.
Hazel tried to convince herself that it was nothing. Maybe he was just dealing with things at home, considering his father’s critical condition. She couldn’t blame him for that. But as the days dragged on, her concern grew. She couldn’t shake the nagging worry that something was wrong—terribly wrong.
Every time she pulled out her phone to text or call him, she hesitated, her fingers hovering over the screen. She didn’t want to be a bother. She didn’t want t
