That night, after Chloe finally fell asleep, I stayed awake staring at the ceiling again.
The room was dark except for the faint light coming through the curtains.
Every few minutes, my thoughts drifted unwillingly back to the marks on Chloe’s neck.
Not because I judged her.
I didn’t.
It just reminded me how different my own relationship experience had been.
Or maybe how confusing it had been.
I turned onto my side slowly and pulled the blanket tighter around myself.
Ryan and I had never gone far physically.
Mostly kissing.
Holding hands.
Small things.
At the time, I used to think that meant he respected me.
But now, lying there in the dark, memories started replaying differently.
The way he used to get annoyed whenever I stopped him from doing more.
The sighs.
The guilt-tr
