Chapter 30

**The Ache of the Unknown**

Athena Pov.

I manage to swallow a few spoonfuls of the macaroni and cheese before the lump in my throat makes it impossible to eat any more. The rest goes into the fridge, left for my parents, who will probably stumble in at some ungodly hour, looking for something to soak up the alcohol. The kitchen is dim, the only light coming from the cracked fridge door, casting an eerie glow on the empty bottles lined up on the counter. I close the fridge and head to my room, each step feeling heavier than the last.

Once I'm in bed, I pull the blanket up to my chin, staring into the darkness that fills my room. The familiar shadows stretch across the walls, but tonight they feel different, almost alive. There's a heaviness in the air, a thick, suffocating feeling that wraps around my chest, squeezing until I can barely breathe. My hand moves to my heart, as if I can physically stop the ache that's growing there.