Katherine’s POV – The Next Day
The morning sun barely warmed the windows. I sat at the kitchen island with a warm cup of tea in my hands, but it did little to soothe the unease in my chest. Jake had left early. No kiss. No goodbye. Just a scribbled note on the counter.
“Don’t open the door for anyone. Stay inside. I’ll be back before dark.”
That was it.
And yet, it said everything.
Something had changed since last night. His body was with me, but his mind was drifting somewhere else—toward war. And I was stuck here. Again. Waiting. Trying not to feel like a ticking time bomb someone else had armed.
I sighed and stood up, deciding to clean just to feel busy. I was halfway through wiping down the counter when my phone buzzed with a message.
Unknown Number:
Please don’t run from me ag
