Her hands slowly rose to her face, fingers pressing hard against the bridge of her nose, as though she could physically crush the fear tightening its cold grip around her heart. She inhaled slowly, letting the chill air fill her lungs before releasing it in a quiet, trembling breath that traced a faint shiver down her spine. 

Her voice fell to a whisper, heavy with bitter self-reproach. 

“I can’t even save myself in front of a camera, how am I supposed to protect Calvin and Katie? I’m pathetic.” 

The words tasted like rust and darkness, corroding from within as they slipped from her lips. Time seemed to stretch, heavy, suffocating,...