One Night, Forever Wounds

mornings, the faint hum of traffic down the main road, and the occasional chatter from the bakery across her

No one asked too many questions in towns like this. People were polite, but not curious. They saw a pale-faced gi

ad actuall

tore owner, Mrs. Halverson, had left a bag of croissants at her door again. She didn't ask why. She didn't press when E

since the night she left the city. Since th

ke that-sharp, brutal, composed in the most unnerving way. The kind of man who could

ked at her, it was like he saw something no one else did-like he could read

oneliness. Maybe it w

the line, he didn't look b

ds. The worst part wasn't even the betrayal, the false promises whispered in the dark, or the morning after

nstinctively, though there was nothing to see yet. Not

doctor yet. She hadn't dared. That would mean facing reality, and she wasn't read

t it was quiet, and that's what she needed. No spreadsheets, no high-rise offices, no glas

reflection in the mirror. The bruises were gone. The physic

en eating much. Her body knew before her mind did, and now it was a slow adjustment-tryi

ver know. He di

go. Just once. A cold voicemail left at

everything that happen

as she deleted it. She remembered staring at her phone long

orget something stil

tering in. Mrs. Dwyer with her crossword puzzles. The Sanders twins with their e

somewhere else-back in Kaelan's office, back in the night where it all started, back

ful under the overcast sky. For a second, she almost believed this life could

meant to last long

stood across the street-dark coat, expe

ood ra

k-the kind of presence that didn't belong in Rosefield. The kind o

had sent

a fr

ooked up. Str