The next morning arrived with a soft, golden glow seeping through the curtains, casting warm patches of light across my room. I stretched beneath the cozy embrace of my covers, momentarily forgetting the weight of the world outside my windows. Aria's voice, gentle but anxious, broke through the haze of sleep.
"Evie, wake up," she whispered, poking her head into my room.
I groaned and squinted at the clock on my nightstand, only to realize that it was far too early for anyone to be disturbing my peace. "Aria, it's the weekend. Can't I get just a few more minutes of sleep?"
She hesitated, her gaze flicking nervously between the floor and the doorway. Something was off, and my drowsy mind was suddenly jolted into alertness. With a heavy sigh, I sat up and pushed my unruly hair out of my fa
