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~Alex's POV
Bella sat on the edge of the bed for a while, quiet, fingers still gripping her phone. The morning light was soft, filtering through the sheer curtains, but the tension in the room made it feel heavier than usual. I watched her, gave her a moment. She needed it. I could tell.
I reached out and brushed her hair back behind her ear.
"You should get ready," I said gently. "We've got time, but not much."
She nodded slowly, still not saying much, and then stood up. I got out of bed as well, rubbing my hands over my face and running a hand through my hair to clear my head.
She walked toward the wardrobe and opened it, staring inside like she wasn't really seeing anything.
"Need help picking something?" I asked as I pulled on a pair of dark slacks.
"No," she said, but her voice was distant. "I just… I didn't expect this today."
