She stood with the daughter who had never sacrificed a single thing in her life. I walked down the steps with my hands shoved deep into my coat pockets.

The street was lined with cars as people began to leave the wake. They talked about their dinner plans and weekend trips as if they hadn’t just watched a family fall apart.

One of my uncles gave me a pitying smile as he walked toward his truck. “Sorry about the news, kid. It’s been a pretty rough day for you.”

I nodded but didn’t stop to chat. By the time I reached my car, my jaw ached from how tightly I was clenching it.

I slid into the driver’s seat and stared at the steering wheel while my father’s old advice echoed in my head. “You’re tougher than you think, Riley, so never let anyone else decide what you’re worth.”

I started the engine, and the sound felt loud in the quiet neighborhood. Skylar’s laughter was still floating through the open windows of the house as I pulled away.