I hesitated for a moment, staring at the door handle as if it might disappear before my eyes.
Then, slowly, I reached out and turned it.
It moved easily.
The door swung open without resistance.
I wasn’t dreaming. Hailey had really left it unlocked.
A mistake? Maybe.
Or maybe she wanted me to step out and dig my own grave.
Either way, I wasn’t about to waste the chance.
I stepped back inside, closing the door softly. Before anything else, I needed to pull myself together.
Moving quickly, I grabbed a towel and slipped into the bathroom, letting the hot water wash away the exhaustion clinging to my body. My muscles ached, my stitches burned faintly, but I ignored the discomfort.
When I emerged, I dried off and dressed in the clothes Hailey had left—simple yet comfortable. I applied
