I sat there for what felt like forever, my body pressed against the edge of the bed, my fingers twisting the bedsheet like it was the only thing holding me together. My chest was heavy, my breathing uneven, and the silence in the room wrapped around me like a chain I couldn’t break free from. My legs felt frozen. I wanted to stand, but my body refused to move. Fear kept me glued in place.
Then, I heard the faint sound of the door handle twist. My heart jumped into my throat. I had locked it from the inside, but the sound still made me tremble. My breath caught as I stared at the door, waiting and listening.
Then I heard his voice.
“Elizabeth,” Benjamin’s tone was calm, soft, almost too calm compared to the storm in my chest.
I stood slowly, my legs were shaking, and I walked toward the
