Chapter One Hundred And Seventy Three
The silence that followed the heavy click of the front door was the loudest thing I had ever heard in my life. I stayed on the living room floor for a long time, my knees pressed hard against my chest, staring at the empty space where Khalid had been standing just moments before. The apartment felt entirely different now. The warmth that had filled it since last night was completely gone, replaced by a cold, thick air that made my lungs ache with every single breath. The rhythmic sound of the heavy Manchester rain against the glass windows didn't feel cozy anymore; it sounded like an enemy trying to break its way inside.
I looked over at the dark hallway that led to Chase’s bedroom. He was still sleeping soundly, completely unaware that the fragile w
