Page 38 of Shattering

They ran through mock tackles, sidesteps, and rolling passes, the flow of movement so easy, so natural—as if nothing had changed, as if this was any other day before their world collapsed.

For a little while, they were how they used to be.

Carefree.

Whole.

Eventually, Tomos spotted another kid he knew from school, a dark-haired boy wearing a football jersey, and ran off toward the slides.

Gray watched him go, then exhaled slowly, turning toward Cadi.

She was seated on the bench, lost in a faraway reverie, her eyes fixed on nothing in particular.

Gray hesitated, then lowered himself onto the bench beside her.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke.

Then—

"Cadi..."

Her expression didn't change. Her eyes trailed Tomos.

He tried again, his voice careful. "About what I said—"

"After the test."

Gray's jaw tightened.

"I don't think... I mean the test—"

"After the test."

Every time he tried to speak, she cut him off with the same phrase, her tone flat and unwavering.

Her anger had not diminished, and yet, after a moment, she let out a small, tired laugh.

"I didn't realize how much energy it takes to hold on to your anger."

Gray turned his head slightly, watching her as she stared straight ahead.

She had always been the one who fought for them, the one who insisted they never let fights fester past bedtime, the one who believed in raised voices, slammed doors, and makeup sex before morning.

What had happened to them?

Where had they gone so wrong?

Gray let out a slow, measured breath, but he didn't speak again.

Because for the first time in their lives—Cadi wasn't fighting for them anymore.

And that realization was the worst one yet.

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Two days later ,Cadi walked into work like she wasn't waiting for the ground beneath her to give way.

She had thrown herself into routine—getting up early, making breakfast for Tomos, checking emails she didn't read. Callum tried not to get in her way...giving her space. She had driven to the hospital on autopilot, parked in her usual spot, walked into the clinic like it was any other day.

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