I didn’t wait another second. The sound in the hallway came again-faint but enough to snap every nerve in my body awake.
My heartbeat jumped, and before I could think, I ran to the door and turned the lock hard.
Click.
The sound was small but powerful. It echoed inside me like a promise.
I pressed my palm flat against the wood, breathing fast. For the first time, the silence on the other side didn’t feel like a threat-it felt like a wall between me and everything I didn’t want to face.
Locked.
Safe.
Alone.
The words repeated in my head until they started to calm me. My shoulders dropped, my breathing slowed. The fear didn’t vanish, but it loosened its hold, just enough for me to move again.
I turned and looked around the room. It looked different now. Softer, less dangerous like
