章 29: Exposed Vulnerabilities

I barely registered the knock at first, buried deep under the covers as if they could shield me from everything. But the second knock was louder, pulling me from the cocoon of my thoughts. With a sigh, I forced myself up, brushing away the dried tears clinging to my face.

When I opened the door, I was surprised to see both Valerie and Maeve standing there, holding bags of snacks, blankets draped over their shoulders like they were ready for a full-on slumber party.

"Surprise!" Valerie's voice was bright, though her eyes shone with concern. Maeve smiled softly beside her, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

"I booked the first flight when I saw the headlines. You know I couldn't leave you to deal with this mess alone," Maeve greeted me, stepping forward to give me a warm hug.

"Yeah," Valerie chimed in. "We couldn't let you mope around on your own."