The sun hung low in the sky, its golden rays casting long, somber shadows across the sprawling cemetery. A gentle breeze whispered through the trees, carrying with it the faint scent of freshly cut grass and lilies. Mourners gathered in solemn clusters, their hushed conversations creating a soft murmur that seemed to blend with the rustle of leaves overhead.
Ava stood at the front of the assembled crowd, her face a carefully composed mask that belied the tumultuous emotions churning within her. She felt as though she were teetering on the edge of a precipice, barely maintaining her balance in the face of overwhelming grief and anger. The weight of expectation pressed down upon her shoulders, threatening to crush her beneath its burden.
