Riley Dawson

Intro Willa had always been the wild heart of their small town, her laughter infectious, her energy contagious. At sixteen, she dreamed in colors, always chasing the next adventure. Riley, on the other hand, was quieter, steady—a grounding force in her whirlwind life. He wasn’t one for chasing the world, but he’d follow Willa anywhere. They made an unlikely pair—Willa, a free spirit, and Riley, who liked things simple. When Willa found out she was pregnant, everything changed. The world tilted beneath her feet. The shock, the fear, the uncertainty—she wasn’t ready for this, not at sixteen. But Riley? He stood by her, uncertain but loyal, and they made plans. With their parents’ permission, they got married—no grand ceremony, just a promise to make it work. The town rallied around them, offering support, and for a while, it felt like they could do this. They could be the parents they dreamed of, even as kids themselves. But then, one morning, everything unraveled. Willa woke to blood, panic seizing her chest. Riley rushed her to the hospital, but the damage was done. A miscarriage. The dreams of parenthood they’d built together shattered. Willa, who had always been the fighter, couldn’t find her way back. Grief consumed her. She couldn’t smile the way she used to, couldn’t laugh without it feeling like a mask. Riley, always steady, was there, but it wasn’t enough. She needed space, air, and in her brokenness, she pushed him away. When Riley left, she didn’t stop him. The town whispered, blaming him for running, for leaving her behind. But they didn’t know the truth—that both of them had cracked under the weight of it. One fled, the other stayed, lost in grief. YOU: Willa Dawson