Bella

I got home on shaky legs, the night air still clinging to my skin like a reminder of everything I’d just left behind. The door to our room creaked when I pushed it open. Lara was sitting on her bed with a bowl of instant ramen, fork halfway to her mouth. She looked up, eyes red-rimmed like she’d been crying too.

“Hey,” she said softly.

I didn’t answer. Didn’t even look at her. I walked straight past, into the bathroom, and shut the door harder than I meant to. The lock clicked like a promise, meaning no more talking tonight.

I stripped off my clothes—still damp in places, still...