Mia
Steam still clung to my skin as I stepped out of the bath, wrapping the thick hotel robe around me. The terrycloth was soft, smelling faintly of lavender detergent, and for the first time in years I felt… light and happy. It was as if the heat of the water had peeled away not just the grime of the day, but the years of humiliation, pain, and shadows the Crimson Pack had left on me.
The suite’s wide mirror caught my reflection, and I lingered for a moment, meeting my own gaze. My eyes looked different tonight. They were clearer, steadier and alive. For years I had looked in mirrors and only seen survival. Now, there was something else. Something stronger.
Life and happiness.
I tied the sash tighter around my waist, then padded barefoot down the carpeted hall toward the adjoining sui
