The night swallowed us as Jason’s car sped away from the house. I pressed my forehead against the cool glass, watching the only home I’d ever known shrink into the distance until it disappeared completely. My heart ached with every mile, torn between guilt and freedom.
Jason’s hand rested firmly on the gearshift, his other hand reaching over to find mine. His grip was steady, grounding me even as the rest of my world tilted on its axis.
“You okay?” he asked quietly.
I let out a shaky breath. “No. But I will be.”
His lips quirked into the faintest smile. “That’s enough for now.”
⸻
We drove for hours, the hum of the engine our only soundtrack. Jason didn’t tell me where we were going, and I didn’t ask. It didn’t matter. As long as we were together, the destination seemed less important
