The church was quiet now. Most people had already left after Candice’s funeral, their murmurs fading into the soft hum of cars pulling away. You stayed behind, staring at the flowers draped across her picture, unable to move. Your chest felt tight, your throat raw from holding back tears

“Still here?” a voice broke through the silence

You turned, and there she was — Olivia. Black dress, hair pinned back messily like she hadn’t cared enough to perfect it, her dark eyeliner slightly smudged. She wasn’t wearing her usual confident smirk. Instead, she looked tired. Smaller somehow

“I… couldn’t leave yet,” you admitted, your voice low “It doesn’t feel real.”

Olivia walked closer, her heels clicking softly against the floor until she stopped beside you. For a while, she just stared at Candice’s picture, her lips pressing into a thin line

“She was my best friend,” Olivia said finally, her tone sharper than she probably intended “And I was supposed to look out for her. That’s what we always did for each other. And now—” She cut herself off, taking in a shaky breath

You glanced at her, surprised to see her eyes wet with tears. Olivia Castle never let anyone see her cry