Chapter 1 The prologue

The Prologue

Anastasia hovered on the ledge of the roof, knees drawn tightly to her chest, cradling them with desperate arms. Tears, mixed with smudged mascara, streaked down her cheeks as she gazed at the city lights glittering against the dark sky. The wind whispered through her long, wavy brown hair, as if trying to soothe her anguish.

"How did it come to this?" she thought, her heart heavy with despair. Her mind swirled with memories of pain and betrayal, each one cutting deeper than the last.

She squeezed her eyes shut, hoping to block out the storm of emotions threatening to consume her.

Tonight was supposed to mark a new beginning, a joyful milestone in her life. Graduation. A day filled with hope, celebration, and promises of a bright future. Instead, it had shattered into pieces, leaving her more broken than she'd ever been.

The betrayal had blindsided her. Walking into that room, seeing him tangled up with her, and hearing the cruel confession that followed-it had been too much to bear. Her stomach twisted as the memory surfaced, vivid and raw.

Anastasia replayed the scene over and over, the pain fresh and unrelenting. Her fingers trembled as she reached into her pocket, pulling out a small bottle of sleeping pills and a half-empty flask of whiskey.

"Maybe this will help," she muttered, her voice barely audible over the wind. The pills were bitter on her tongue, but she swallowed them down with a swig of whiskey, the burn in her throat a welcome distraction from the ache in her heart.

As the alcohol dulled her senses, she let her thoughts drift to the past-to her first love, Bastian. The one person who had always made her feel safe. His name was a whisper in her mind, a flicker of warmth in the cold darkness surrounding her.

She stroked the bracelet on her wrist, the one he had given her all those years ago. Memories of him flooded her mind: his laughter, his touch, the way he had made her feel like the world wasn't such a terrible place after all. Losing him had nearly destroyed her, and now... now it felt like she was losing herself.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I wish I could've been stronger. Maybe if you were still here, things would be different. Maybe I..." Her words trailed off as tears streamed down her face.

The city lights blurred as her vision grew hazy. She lay back on the cold concrete, dangerously close to the edge, and closed her eyes. The pills and whiskey were taking effect, pulling her into a heavy, drowsy state. She welcomed the numbness, the escape from the torment that had become her reality.

"Bastian," she murmured, her voice barely audible. "If you're out there... if there's anything after this... I hope we find each other again."

A gust of wind whipped through her hair as she began to drift, her body swaying precariously. In her mind, she dreamed of falling-the sensation of weightlessness, the rush of air against her skin as she fell off the ledge.

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Chapter 1 – The very beginning

Before heartbreak, before betrayal, before she lost everything, Anastasia Goodwin had a perfect life.

Her father, Wyatt Goodwin, was a well-respected lawyer, his name spoken with admiration across Chicago's courtrooms. He was charismatic, intelligent, and dedicated-not only to his work but to his family. Her mother, Helena, was the heart of their home, her warmth and laughter filling every room. She had a way of making even the most ordinary days feel magical.

Then there were her younger brothers, Matt and Sean. Wild and full of energy, they were always dragging Anastasia into their mischief, whether it was sneaking extra marshmallows into hot cocoa or plotting against their unsuspecting babysitters.

They weren't rich, but they were happy. Summers were spent on road trips, discovering hidden gems across the country, while winters meant snowball fights and curling up by the fire. Her parents had taught her that love wasn't measured in wealth, but in the moments they shared together.

But even in the happiest stories, storms are always waiting on the horizon.

One ordinary afternoon, Anastasia's world tilted. It started with whispered phone calls behind closed doors, the tension in her mother's smile. Helena, who had always been the strongest woman Anastasia knew, began to look tired. The family still went on trips, still laughed around the dinner table, but there was an undercurrent of something unspoken. Something dark.

The day her mother sat her and her brothers down, Anastasia already knew what was coming.

"I have cancer," Helena said softly.

The words landed like a blow. Anastasia couldn't breathe. Sean and Matt looked between their parents, searching for reassurance, but none came.

The fight had already begun, and it was a battle their mother would lose.