I finally cleared my mind from thoughts and fear.
I stood there for a long time, breathing slow, steady-pretending that each breath was enough to make the world feel normal again.
The bathroom smelled faintly of soap and steam, but underneath it was something else-something that reminded me I wasn’t really alone.
The lotion was still on the counter, the cap twisted halfway off. I poured a small amount into my palm. My fingers shook as I spread it across my arms, my shoulders, the places where the red dress didn’t reach.
The lotion felt cold at first, then warm. It made my skin prickle, made the silence stretch thinner.
I couldn’t stop thinking about him. About the way his eyes had followed me before I closed the door. About the way he’d laughed-quiet, sharp-like he knew every though
