Chapter 52

Valerie

I lost myself in work, using it as a shield against the pain of my past and the turmoil of my thoughts. Countless hours were spent in my office, buried under a pile of tasks and projects, throwing myself into event planning with a fervor bordering on obsession. I asked my boss for more work, more events to organize, more tasks to keep me occupied, telling her that I needed to work more than I needed air to breathe. And she obliged, perhaps sensing the silent plea for distraction hidden beneath my words.

Normalcy felt like a fleeting illusion, a fragile facade I clung to in the presence of my loved ones. With Shay, Dad, and Carmen, I could almost convince myself that everything was okay, that the darkness lurking within me could be kept at bay. But when I was alone, the emptiness crept in, gnawing at the edges of my sanity and driving me to the brink of despair.

By late evening, I was able to drag myself home, still buzzing with the chaos of the day. Dad greeted me at the door,