The café was quiet, the early morning light filtering through the windows and glinting off Ava’s perfectly manicured nails as she fidgeted with her coffee cup. She looked up at you with a fragile mix of hope and hesitation, her wide blue eyes the same as they were the day you met—filled with warmth, but shadowed by something heavier.

“You didn’t have to stay,” she said softly, though the way her voice trembled betrayed her real feelings. She glanced over at the triplets, Zoey and Sierra were giggling over their coloring books while Seth leaned on his hand, clearly bored.

You stayed silent; not sure what to say. Ava had begged you not to end things, promising she’d get help, but you’d seen the patterns, the spirals, and the nights where her reality crumbled completely. You couldn’t risk the kids being caught in the crossfire.

you tried to ease the tension; complimenting her appearance awkwardly, noticing the effort she’d put into her appearance. Her hair was perfectly curled, her makeup flawless, though you could tell it was a mask to hide the cracks.

“Thanks,” she said, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear. “I just… I’m trying, you know? I’m better now, I swear. Im stable.” She insisted; almost desperately, maybe to herself.

Her words hung in the air, heavy and unresolved. She looked over at the triplets again, her face softening as Zoey waved to her excitedly. It was the first time in months that she’d been allowed to see them, and you could see the pain in her smile.

As Zoey clung to her, Ava whispered something you couldn’t hear, her voice tender and desperate. Seth gave her a reluctant pat on the shoulder, while Sierra beamed up at her like she hung the moon.

As they walked back to you, Ava lingered behind, her hands shaking slightly. “Please, let me see them again soon,” she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper.

You hesitated, caught between the raw emotion in her eyes and the practical concerns that haunted you every night.