yn's

y time I moved, I felt its weight, its sharp edges

led piece of paper now spread on the nightstand.

ke. Stay in your place

ng, some clue that would point me toward its author. But nothin

but the directness of the note didn't match her style. She preferred manipulation through subt

t about it, the l

oughts. I peered out the window to see my father stepping out of his

pocket. I wasn't ready to share it with

er called as he e

replied, trying

before pushing it open. His face softened when he

ay?" he

a smile in return.

hing mine. "You sure you're

standing up and brushing past him

of thoughts in my head. The process of boiling water, choosing a

taring into the steaming liq

feel scared, powerless. But I wasn't

e. I glanced at the screen

lk? It's i

ng him wasn't an option-not yet, anyway. He might know something

ere?" I t

ost immediately. "

nted to march over there and demand answers. Another part of me wante

iosity

I stepped up to the door. He opened it almost im

warmly, stepping a

ace. The clean lines, the abstract art, the faint scent of h

aleb?" I asked, keep

me, his expression softening. "I w

,'" I said firml

ing. "Don't say that. We've been thr

f back from completing the statement. I was this cl

id you find out something? You can always talk to me about it, you know? I still love

e? Don't insult me, Caleb. You do

d his eyes darkened.

you prove yourself. This-whatever we had-and yes I said we could fix things,

, but before I could rea

is voice lower now

I said, gla

listen to me," he said

you wan

how I can prov

you soon. Right n

oing to tell

spine. Before I could react, he pulled me cl

said, panic creep

d, he leaned in, his bre

uch," he murmured, hi

elled, pushing a

only tightened. "Why are you fighting this

shouted, strugg

arms, finally managing to free one hand. I shoved

, his expression a m

rled, his voice d

olted for the door, my heart pounding as I

r barely glanced at me as I slid into the bac

I clutched my bag. How had it come to this? Caleb had a

alm down. The note. The encounter wit

hed into my pocket for the note, needing

rs met nothi

, I searched my bag, my other p

as g