Chapter 4

The coffee shop on Maple Street was quiet in the mid-afternoon lull. I arrived early, choosing a corner table that offered privacy while still allowing me to watch the door. Every time the bell chimed, my heart jumped, expecting to see Grace's familiar face. When she finally walked in—her school backpack slung over one shoulder, her long brown hair pulled into a messy ponytail—I almost didn't recognize her. She looked smaller somehow, more vulnerable than the confident teenager I was used to seeing at family gatherings.

"Grace," I called softly, raising my hand.

She spotted me and hesitated, her body…