Ella woke up with the kind of headache that starts at the base of your skull and spreads like spilled ink. She had fallen asleep sometime after four, still in the same position, knees pulled up, arms wrapped around herself, face half-buried in the pillow that was now damp on one side. The room was dark except for the thin gray line of light leaking under the blinds. She didn’t move right away. She just lay there, listening to the apartment breathe around her,no footsteps in the hallway, no coffee maker sounds and no sign that Alex had come out of his room.
She dragged herself up, feet hitting the cold floor, and padded to the bathroom. Splashed water on her face until her skin stung. Brushed her teeth staring at her own reflection, puffy eyes, dull skin, the same tired girl she’d been loo
