( Sophie’s pov)
The next morning, I woke with a sensation I couldn’t name.
Not quite dread.
Not quite anticipation.
Something in between — like standing on the edge of something that might either save me or hurt me, and not knowing which.
I showered slowly, letting the water run hot against my skin. It felt like it peeled off layers I wasn’t ready for the world to see yet — hesitation, fear, self-doubt.
When I dressed, I chose a soft ivory blouse and a muted gray skirt. Business professional, but quiet. It seemed fitting. I didn’t want to make an entrance. I wanted to slip in and survive the day.
The commute passed in a blur — buses, sidewalks, the rush of city noise — and when I reached the agency, the lobby was already busy.
But the moment I stepped inside, I felt it.
Eyes.
Not
