In the Shadows of Yesterday

Chapter 7

Ava stood in front of her mirror, brushing out her hair and glancing at the clock. She was almost ready for dinner, a mix of excitement and nervousness bubbling inside her. Her outfit lay on the bed, and she mentally ran through the conversation she might have with Bryson. It had been a while since she'd let herself go out and just enjoy time with someone, and this felt like a step forward.

Just as she was about to get dressed, there was a soft knock on her door.

"Ava?" Her mom, Vivian, peeked her head into the room, her expression apologetic. "I hate to ask, but do you have time to help me tonight? The kitchen sink's leaking, and Adrian's staying at his friend's place after the game. I can't seem to get the tools right."

Ava's heart sank. She glanced down at the outfit she'd planned and then back at her mother's tired face. Her mom had been through a lot over the years, managing the house, raising her and Adrian alone. Ava had always been the one to step in and help, and it had become second nature for her to prioritize family over everything else—even her personal life.

"Yeah, of course," Ava said, her voice gentle but inwardly resigned. She didn't tell her mom about her plans. She couldn't. Her mom needed her, and that was more important. It always had been.

"Thank you, sweetheart. I just need help tightening the pipe under the sink, and then I'll get out of your hair." Vivian smiled, clearly relieved that Ava had agreed.

Ava returned the smile, though it didn't reach her eyes. As her mom left the room, the weight of disappointment settled in. She stared at her phone, knowing what she had to do next. She had to cancel the dinner with Bryson. Her stomach twisted in knots just thinking about it. He had seemed so excited, and she really had been looking forward to it too. But there was no way she could leave her mom to deal with things alone.

She picked up her phone, opened Bryson's contact, and hesitated. Would he be upset? Would this ruin whatever little spark had started between them? With a sigh, she tapped the call button, deciding it was better to just get it over with.

Across town, Bryson had just stepped out of the shower, a towel wrapped around his waist. The steam fogged up the mirror, but he felt good—refreshed and ready for the evening. He hadn't been this excited about a night out in a long time. As he ran a hand through his damp hair, his phone buzzed on the counter.

He picked it up, expecting a message from his buddy about the apartment lease, but when he saw Ava's name flashing on the screen, his heart skipped a beat. He smiled, answering quickly.

"Hey, Ava," he said, a little more eagerly than he had meant to.

There was a pause on the other end. "Hey, Bryson," Ava's voice was soft, and he immediately sensed something was off.

He furrowed his brow, the excitement fading slightly. "Everything okay?"

"I... I'm really sorry, but I'm going to have to cancel tonight," Ava blurted out, the words tumbling over themselves. "My mom needs my help with something around the house, and my brother's staying at a friend's, so it's just me. I feel terrible, but I can't leave her to deal with it on her own."

Bryson let out a small sigh, disappointed but understanding. He could hear the anxiety in her voice, and he knew this wasn't just an excuse—she genuinely felt torn.

"It's fine, Ava," Bryson said, his voice steady and reassuring. "I get it. Family stuff happens."

"I'm really sorry," she repeated, clearly frustrated with herself. "I was really looking forward to it."

"Hey, we can do it another time," Bryson said, trying to ease the tension in her voice. "You've got to take care of what's important. It's no big deal."