Morning came too quickly.
I hadn’t slept.
Not really.
I had closed my eyes sometime after midnight, but my mind never stopped moving. Every time I drifted close to sleep, I saw the sketches again. The folder name sitting at the top of the screen like a verdict.
**Missing child.**
By the time sunlight pushed through the curtains, I gave up pretending. My body felt heavy, like I had run for miles without moving an inch.
I just wanted to get out of the house.
The walls felt closer than usual. The air thicker. The idea of walking into him in the hallway made my stomach twist.
And the thought of him touching me again—
No.
I shoved the thought away and forced myself out of bed.
The shower water was hotter than usual, almost burning, but I didn’t adjust it. I stood there longer than ne
