The cruelest lies are the ones we tell ourselves.

——

Lily’s POV

When Dr. Jones finally left the room, he followed her. I stared at the place where he had been sitting—at the indentation left behind in the mattress. It was ridiculous, the way it pulled at something inside me. A hollow, aching place.

It was just fabric, barely pressed down.

But it felt like he’d taken something with him when he stood.

It was stupid.

But it was also real.

I didn’t dare move. I waited for the door to click shut, for his footsteps to retreat down the hall.

But he didn’t go.

He lingered at the door,...