LAUREN'S POV

Waking up today felt entirely different — lighter, calmer, far better than the way I had woken up yesterday with that hammering headache pounding behind my eyes. At least today I could open them without wincing, without the sharp sting of regret for a night I couldn’t remember. No confusion about how I had gotten into a strange room, no unfamiliar ceiling above my head. Just my own space, my own bed, and the fresh clarity of morning.

Tessa had already left for work, her absence noticeable in the apartment. She was always up early, full of energy that I honestly envied. I was about to head out...