My eyes fluttered open, slowly.

I must have dozed off.

The room came into focus as the memory of the recent ordeals flooded my mind, replaying like a broken record.

It drifted from James to Darius and back to James.

The memories still lingered but their power over me was fading. I remembered the whispered lies, the manipulation, the gaslighting, and the isolation. But, my heart and my happiness will be taken into consideration, henceforth.

I slipped into my gown and walked out of the room. I descended the stairs and caught sight of him.

James-- he sat on the couch, phone in hand, murmuring a few words that seemed...