KEILAH

The steam curled around me like whispered secrets as I stood in the pool, letting the warm water cascade over my bare shoulders. My fingers drifted through the stream, slow and absent, while my thoughts—traitorous, wild thoughts—raced far away from where they should’ve stayed.

He was gone now. Left not long ago, with a soft kiss and a promise I didn’t ask him to make.

I told him to go. I had to.

Because tomorrow, everything will burn.

Still… gods, I hadn’t wanted him to leave.

The water was supposed to help—supposed to soothe me, ground me—but instead, it only made me ache more. My cheeks flamed, hotter than...