I stared at the small, flickering yellow flame dancing dangerously in Ava’s hand. The little light cast long, jumping shadows across the dark bedroom walls, making the room feel smaller, tighter. My heart hammered against my ribs like a trapped bird, a frantic, loud rhythm that surely she could hear in the quiet of the night. Ava's eyes were completely bloodshot, swollen and wet with a fresh wave of heavy tears that she couldn't stop. Her whole face was pale, and she looked like she had just seen a terrifying ghost—or was about to become one herself.
"What on earth is that lighter for, Ava?" I whispered, my voice dropping to a low, thin sound that was barely audible in the heavy, suffocating silence of the room.
Ava’s gaze flickered away from the silver lighter, snapping up to look at me
