Chapter 6
I was still lying on my bed, legs shaky and my body warm from everything that just happened, when I heard the front gate open again.
My father’s voice carried up from downstairs — calm, tired, talking to the night security about the traffic.
Two minutes later, his footsteps came up the stairs. He stopped outside my door and knocked twice — his usual soft taps.
“Baby girl, are you still awake?”
I sat up fast, smoothed my hair, and tried to make my voice sound normal. “Yes Daddy, come in.”
He opened the door and stepped inside, still in his work shirt, looking exhausted but smiling at me.
“How was your day?” he asked, leaning against the doorframe. “You didn’t go out, did you?” “It was okay,” I said, forcing a smile.
“Just online classes, watched some Netflix. Nothing s
