The moment I touched him, everything collapsed back into place.
Air returned. Weight returned. Reality forced itself around me like it had been waiting. Kessler’s hands were on me instantly, steadying, grounding, holding me in a way that felt controlled on the surface but carried something tighter underneath.
“Mabel.” I nodded once, trying to steady my breathing as the room settled into something familiar, something solid, something that should have meant safety.
“I’m here,” I said. But the words felt delayed. Not enough for anyone else to notice. Kessler did not move right away. His gaze held mine, sharp and focused, searching for something beneath what I was showing him.
“Say my name.” The request came low. “Kessler.” The answer came easily. But the moment the word left my mouth, I h
