Lina’s POV
After that night Maya spoke to me in the hallway, peace completely left my body.
Even when the house was quiet, my mind wasn’t. I started jumping at small sounds. A door closing. Someone calling my name. Every time my phone buzzed, my heart would skip, like maybe someone had finally figured everything out.
I became extra careful. Too careful.
I watched my words. Watched my steps. Watched my face in the mirror before stepping out of my room, making sure I looked normal. Not guilty. Not scared. Just… fine.
But pretending takes energy. And I was running out of it.
Ethan came around more often now. He sat beside me during meals. Walked me to my room at night. Sometimes he talked about plans, sometimes he stayed quiet, but his presence was always there.
“You don’t talk much an
