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Through the Cracks

Author: Sarah Ovvens
last update Last Updated: 2024-12-09 10:22:56

Xavier stepped out of his room, his shirt still damps from his shower, and headed toward Calla’s.

Outside, the faint light of dawn was creeping into the sky, the stars still faintly visible but beginning to fade.

Last night’s events played on a loop in his mind—the kids’ endless antics, the mountain of responsibilities, and the heated confrontation with Harold. Yet through it all, one thought stayed crystal clear: Calla’s safety.

Stopping at her door, he knocked softly.

“Calla?” he called, his voice calm but firm.

Nothing.

He frowned, knocking again before carefully turning the knob. The room was dim, lit by the soft amber glow of a bedside lamp.

His gaze swept the space until he spotted her out on the balcony. Calla sat still, her slender figure outlined by the fading moonlight, her head resting against the back of the chair as she gazed up at the retreating stars.

Xavier stepped onto the terrace, his movements deliberate but unintrusive.

“What’s on your mind, Calla?” he asked, his v
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