. He thought he was being quiet, but the smell gave him away. It was her perfume, a cloying, sweet scent that clung

s twitched uncontrollably. I lay there in the dark, my heart pounding a sick rhythm against my ribs, a cold swe

a stark contrast to the chaos in my head. Dr. Evans' words were gentle but firm, confirming my worst fea

the lobby toward t

and S

, just across the hall. He was holding her hand, his thumb stroking her

g image. Of all the places in this city, th

own footsteps sounded loud and

My voice was sur

g in panic. He dropped Sophia'

at are you doing h

aze flicking to Sophia, who was now sitting bo

e defensive. "A little touch-up. I was just giving her a ride, s

pt to make me the crazy one, was so

absolute doll and keeping me company. My nerves were all shot." She called him "L

, the gaslighting, the sheer aud

my eyes locked on his. "I was just upstairs. A

. I wanted to see a flicker of

Chloe, you' re always so dramatic. It' s just

a clearly uncomfort

aid, not looking at m

pain; he dismissed my reality. In that moment, I understood. My serious, life-altering illness was an inconvenience