Jessica didn’t wait for Alex to leave first. The moment he disappeared into the living room, she moved with the precision of someone who’d rehearsed this escape before. Her body knew the choreography too well, swift and quiet, like shame had taught her muscle memory. She dressed quickly, silently, putting her white shirt back on and her jeans without a sound. Even after showering, the smell of his cologne clung to her skin, mixing with the metallic tang of shame that rose in her throat. It curled inside her, stubborn, refusing to be scrubbed off like it had rights to her body too.
She didn’t ask permission this time. She grabbed her backpack, gave the empty condo one last, disgusted glance, and slipped out, closing the door with deliberate quiet. Her fingers trembled as she turned the kno
