Evelyn's POV
I couldn't control my emotions any longer, I couldn't hold the tears I had been fighting again. I didn't been know what happened, but I just broke down.
My knees buckled immediately.
The thought of everything—the betrayal, the fear, the exhaustion—all attacked me all at once.
I sank to the ground, my body shaking, with the tears spilling over before I could stop them.
"I don't know, Ava," I sobbed, pressing my hands to my face. "I don't know anything anymore."
I shook my head, my voice breaking.
"It's like the universe is against us," I choked out. "Against me and Nathan. And I don't know what to do. This time... this time it hurts more than before."
I pressed a hand to my chest, as if I could hold the pain in place, as if I could stop it from swallowing me whole.
"It hurts, Ava. It really hurts."
She was quiet, but I could feel her there, holding onto the same pain I was.
"Seven years," I whispered.