Only His On Paper

-perfect apartment, staring at the ceiling

etergent, not home. Nothi

er hands when they got cold. She'd always try to smile through it, even when her lips cracked. Now she'd

froze, heart skipping. Too many bad

there again, shoulders stiff,

ts you down

rything

link. "He d

mea

g outside. Cold air bit through the fabric like punishment. I

against the windows. I kept thinking about Lily's last text: Miss you. Stay safe. I had

lding. Still lit like daylight e

e, arms crossed, pacing like a fuse ready to catch. She

she said, v

tood by the window, jacket off, sleeves rol

sure if I was supposed to sit o

sked. My voice crack

darker than usual.

ed. "To

, controlled. "About t

dropped.

id Ethan know where to find Naomi this eveni

ad under

I didn't- I haven't told an

ften. "You left the apa

needed to." My throat tig

pening. "And you used the hospital's front entranc

"I didn't know he'd be there. I didn't

cut in. "And he'

apped. My knees felt weak. Th

Not for coffee. Not for air. You don't open your front door. You don't answ

"I'm not you

ld. "You're something wo

ened my mouth to defend myself, but Damian r

he said, mostly to Naomi. "She still

tell me what I am to

g real. Something human. But all he said was, "You're someone I

answer. It wa

y Mark like I was some fragile asset. The ele

taring at the same text from Lily I hadn't answered. I typed a

pened with

e?" I snapped befo

om

with a small envelope in

ow?" I

able in front of me. "Your past ca

os. Ethan. Following me. At the

photo was of Lily. Thr

and the room tilted

didn't

little. I sat

you need to understand, we're not doing this to

her, trying

"Maybe I am. But I've seen what men

. "Damian's not what you think. But he's not

ore, but the door

way. Buried them under my clothes, li

ssage me. I didn

me. I sat at the window, watching headli

ame a

nock. A

the k

fr

was supposed

g. Every step toward that room felt like wa

he doorfram

had

s standin

rned

sm

ha

e. In the

was