Bella pov
The bus pulled into Crestwood at 3:47 AM, depositing me at a station that was little more than a covered bench and a flickering streetlight. The rain had stopped somewhere during the ride, leaving the air cold and damp, smelling of wet concrete and exhaust fumes.
I stood on the sidewalk with my suitcase, watching the bus pull away, its taillights disappearing around a corner. Then I was alone in a strange city with forty-seven dollars and nowhere to go.
My phone was off. I couldn't risk turning it on, even though I had discarded the sim. A 24-hour diner glowed across the street, its neon sign reading "Rosie's" in flickering pink letters. Through the window, I could see a handful of people—night shift workers.
I crossed the street and pushed through the door, a bell chiming o
