Allie’s POV.
I was just about to leave Carly's room when she grasped my hand, halting my retreat. I turned to face her, my lips curved in a warm smile. But her words pierced the tender moment like an arrow, and my smile withered into a tight line.
"Dad still not at home?" she asked, her voice tinged with disappointment.
I swallowed hard, the words lodged in my throat like stones. I knew the truth, the ugly truth that would shattered her heart.
I took a seat next to Carly, my fingers gently caressing hers. The warmth of her touch was like a salve to my soul, a balm to my guilt-ridden heart.
"Maybe he's stuck outside. You know there's a war," I murmured, my words a hollow echo in the silence of the room.
Carly's chuckle was a bitter laugh, its edges sharp and cutting. "Allie, I'm not a
