*ADELINE*
As I sat perched precariously on the branch, my heart raced like a wild horse galloping through an open field. I could hear the distant hum of the city—cars whizzing by, the faint sound of music from a late-night bar, and the occasional laugh that drifted in the night air like a ghost. Or at least that's what I imagined, as the mansion I spent my last couple of weeks in was in a very secluded area, shielded from everything. It felt intoxicating, that sense of freedom coursing through my veins. But, and there was always a but, the weight of my decision loomed heavy, a dense fog in my thoughts.
What was I doing? Was this really the right choice? I glanced back at the mansion, its looming silhouette bathed in shadows, a fortress filled with so many memories—both comforting and suf
