All good things must eventually come to an end.
My winter break with the four girls had been more than just a vacation—it had been a revelation. Days filled with laughter, quiet conversations that stretched into early morning hours, brief moments of connection that somehow felt more significant than they should have. The time had passed in a blur of shared meals, casual outings, and increasingly comfortable silences where words became unnecessary.
It had clarified something I'd been reluctant to fully acknowledge: I loved them. Not as abstract concepts or characters from a story I once read, but as the complex, flawed, extraordinary women they had become in my eyes.
I loved Cecilia's fierce pride and unexpected vulnerability, the way her crimson eyes sparked with challenge one moment and softened with genuine affection the next.
I loved Rachel's gentle strength and unwavering loyalty, how her healing touch conveyed more than her carefully chosen words ever could.
