After a grueling day and night, I settled into the house Nate’s address led me to, collapsing into a deep sleep. When I woke, the sun had sunk below the horizon, leaving a shroud of twilight.
I rolled over in the soft, warm bed, a contented sigh escaping me. It had been ages since I’d slept so freely, unburdened by the dread of waking to arguments or punishment.
That morning, exhaustion had driven me to wash up and crash without a second thought. Now, alert, I took in the house’s details. Warm, honeyed wood furnished most of the space, complemented by pristine white carpets. The furniture’s arrangement sparked a pang of familiarity. In the living room, a cabinet displayed photos that unveiled the truth.
This home mirrored the one I’d shared with my parents and Owen. The photos captured
