LA

d lands on his hand, where it's brac

st his skin like

a terrifying fire, flicker. The muscles in his jaw twitch. A deep, unfamiliar

ody against mine less

stance between us. He turns his back to me, running a hand through his perfectly styled hair, messing it

from his throat. He doesn't look at me. He ju

ed to be t

as I stumble towards the door. My hand fumbles with the lo

oor open and flee,

. I burst inside, my breath coming in ragged sobs. I lock myself in a stal

y are silent, wracking things that shake my entire body

raw, festering wound in my soul. Trash. The word echoes in my head, over and

g me hollowed out and empty. I push myself up, my limbs heav

My eyes are red and s

hing Landon walk away. The same hollow ache in my chest. The same taste of rejection. But this

ear tracks and the last of my weakness. I look back at the mirror. The br

teady. I rebuild my mask, piece by piece. When I walk out of th

sn't call me into his office. I don't see him. But I feel his

and purse and walk out of the building. I

to my system. The sky is a bruised purple, the

zzes in my

ng. I expect it to be him, an

he screen is one

or Si

n's m

earest sewer. But then, I remember. My parents. Their car, found at the bottom of a ravine o

r beli

e red icon, then moves

dripping with fake affection, fills my ear. "I was

y no

es, undeterred by my silence. "Just family. I would be so

portunity. A chance to get back inside that house, to look for...

-a small precaution that now feels like foresight. If Eleanor thinks she's luring a broken girl into her parlor,

" I say, my voi

! We'll see you at

ear. A wave of dizziness washes over me. Then, a sharp, twisting pain

double over, clutching my stomach, a

is isn't just stress. Someth

put th

screet gynecological clinic near me" into the search bar. T

The city lights blur into streaks of color as the car speeds into the night. I'm heading t