The last tear fell and the first lie began

———

Lily’s PoV

It’s been three weeks.

Three weeks since I felt the sun on my skin. Since I saw the sky. Since I breathed anything but this damp, stale air. Since I saw his face.

Three weeks since Alex died.

I don't know if I'm in a basement or a cave, he never told me. There are no windows, only cold concrete walls and one iron door that never opens unless he opens it. I don’t know what time it is, or what day. There’s no light but the flickering bulb above my head that never turns off, buzzing softly...