Chapter 27

Ivy, present time...

 I was sitting cross-legged on the bed, reminiscing about my time with Aidan back in high school.

My memory was surfacing like a shadow. Our 'friendship' was tumultuous, to say the least. But now, our relationship was more disastrous. Aidan was a bully, but he still had a heart. But now, he was a monster. Or at least, he acted like one.

A soft knock at the door pulled me from the past. "Come in," I called, brushing away the sting of old tears.

The door creaked open, revealing a woman with crow's feet etched around her eyes from years of smiling. Her hair was a soft silver halo, and her apron, though worn, was spotless. She stepped into the room with the grace of someone who spent a lifetime turning houses into homes.