Shattered Plans.

As Liam walked away, I lingered by the doorway, watching him disappear down the street, his usual carefree stride easing some of my lingering post-exam tension. The day had been exhausting, but his presence always seemed to lighten the weight on my shoulders. I sighed, ready to head inside and collapse—until I noticed Dad sitting in the car, waiting for me.

Something about his expression made me pause. It wasn't the proud, relieved look I expected. Instead, his face was tight, his shoulders stiff, and his hands gripped the steering wheel like he was trying to keep himself grounded.

"Hop in, kiddo," he said when he saw me, his voice unusually subdued.

I climbed in hesitantly, my senses on high alert. "What's going on?" I asked, immediately suspicious.

Dad glanced at me and then back at the road, letting out a slow, measured breath. "Ava," he began, his voice carefully even, "I didn't want to bring this up before your exams, but... we're moving."

I blinked, unsure I'd heard him right. "Moving? What do you mean, moving? To where?"

He hesitated for a moment before answering. "To Japan."

The words hit me like a gut punch. "Japan?" I repeated, my voice rising. "You're joking, right? Why? My life is here! My school, my friends... Liam! You can't just spring this on me out of nowhere!"

Dad's hands tightened on the wheel. "I know this is sudden," he said quietly. "I know it's not what you want. But... it's something we have to do."

"Why now?" I demanded, my frustration spilling over. "I haven't been to Japan since I was twelve! Why are you deciding this for us now?"

"Your grandmother is there," he said, as if that explained everything. "Our family is there. It's time we reconnect, Ava."

I stared at him, incredulous. "Reconnect? They didn't care when Mom died! They haven't been a part of my life for years. And now, suddenly, they're family? What's really going on?"

Dad flinched at my words, his face clouding with a mix of guilt and pain. "It's complicated," he muttered, his voice barely audible.

"Complicated?" I scoffed. "What's complicated is how you expect me to drop everything and move to another country! My friends are here, my school is here, and—" My voice caught as I thought of Liam. "Everything I care about is here, Dad!"

He didn't answer, just stared straight ahead, his jaw tight. That silence was worse than any excuse he could've given me.

I turned to the window, swallowing the lump in my throat as anger and helplessness bubbled up inside me. My life, the one I'd worked so hard to piece together, was being torn apart, and I couldn't do a thing to stop it.