The house felt big.
Not empty—big. Like every sound I made echoed back at me louder than it should. I dropped my bag by the door and stood there longer than necessary, keys still in my hand, listening to the silence like it might say something first.
It didn’t.
I locked the door and leaned my forehead against it. My chest felt tight, then hollow, then tight again. Like something was trying to leave my body but didn’t know how.
I went to my room and sat on the edge of the bed without turning on the light. My phone lay beside me. I stared at it. Thought about Mason’s voice. The way he sounded tired instead of angry. That was what hurt the most.
I wasn’t crying yet. I felt… numb. Like my emotions were standing in a line, waiting their turn.
I didn’t want to be alone tonight.
That thoug
