Can't Hold Her Down

Ava quietly stepped into the marble-paved powder room, shutting the door behind her with a soft click. She barely made it to the velvet-cushioned toilet seat before sinking down, her trembling fingers pressing against her throbbing temples. The steady hum of the party outside felt a world away. Closing her eyes, she inhaled deeply, willing her pulse to slow. Then, with slightly unsteady hands, she pulled out her phone.

Mom wants everyone downstairs for cake. She sent the text to Liam, then let her gaze drift over the intricate gold-leaf wallpaper, following its swirling patterns until her heartbeat steadied. The artificial elegance of the room felt suffocating. When she finally forced herself to move, she strode to the sink, turned the faucet to the coldest setting, and splashed water on her face. Looking up, she met her own reflection—a girl draped in a couture gown, yet her expression was that of someone who had just survived a car wreck.