Ivy’s POV
"Ivy, are you sure you're alright?" Lena’s concerned voice came through on the phone as I sat alone in my dimly lit room. The soft hum of the city outside did little to quiet the storm raging in my mind.
I stared at the wall in front of me, my eyes unfocused. "I’m… not sure, Lena. Memories… they’re coming back, and they're not the kind I ever wanted to remember."
A heavy silence fell on the line before Lena replied, "Take your time, Ivy. Sometimes the past finds a way of catching up with us. Just know I’m here."
I closed my eyes, forcing myself to breathe slowly. The images invaded me—flashbacks I had long suppressed.
I was no longer the child who had known only darkness and sorrow; I was suddenly thrust back into that nightmare.
I remembered a warm afternoon turned to horr
