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ELEANOR
I sat curled up on the plush, cream-colored couch in Lena's apartment, my legs tucked beneath me as I stared vacantly at the coffee table in front of me. The soft hum of the city outside was barely audible through the thick curtains, which were drawn tight against the world.
Lena’s apartment was a safe haven—a place where I could let my guard down, where the weight of my responsibilities and the tumult of my thoughts seemed a little less overwhelming.
But tonight, even this sanctuary couldn’t ease the turmoil swirling inside me. The revelation about Dante still sat heavily on my chest, and I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling of betrayal that had taken root deep in my heart.
I had needed to get away, to be somewhere that felt familiar and comforting, so when Lena
