Fallon A few days later The days pass in a haze of anxiety, each one drawing me closer to the inevitable. My period is coming to an end, and with it, the brief reprieve from Leone’s relentless attempts to impregnate me. I’ve tried to keep my mind occupied, focusing on anything but the dread that gnaws at me, finding it impossible to ignore the ticking clock. Every time I catch sight of him, I can feel the weight of what’s coming—what he’ll do once my period is over. And now, that day has come. I sit on the bed, my legs drawn up to my chest, my heart pounding in my ears. The room feels colder than usual, the shadows in the corners darker, more menacing. I can’t shake the feeling of impending doom, like a storm on the horizon that I’m powerless to stop. Leone has left me alone for the pas

