— MARA
I woke to silence.
Not the oppressive kind. Just quiet.
Sunlight streamed through the window. Weak. Winter pale.
I'd slept through the night.
No nightmares. No waking in panic. Just deep, dreamless sleep.
The door was still unlocked.
He'd kept his promise.
I sat up slowly. My body ached. Muscles sore from yesterday's panic attack. Head foggy from exhaustion.
But I was alive.
That counted for something.
I moved to the bathroom. Splashed cold water on my face. Looked at myself in the mirror.
I looked like hell.
Dark circles under my eyes. Skin pale. Hair a mess.
But alive.
I kept coming back to that.
Alive.
Because of him.
Despite him.
I wasn't sure which anymore.
I dressed in clean clothes someone had left on the dresser. Simple. Comfortable. My size, of course.
