VERA'S POV

"Vera, can you please stop running? You're not strong enough for this!"

Jack’s voice echoed behind me, desperate and full of concern. But I couldn’t stop. I didn’t want to stop. My legs kept moving on their own, powered by a mix of pain, anger, and the burning desire to be far away from everything.

I didn’t know if he was close or just shouting from a distance, but his voice, steady and persistent, told me he wasn’t far.

The evening air was cool and gentle, brushing my face and sweeping my hair back as I sprinted toward the main road. All I wanted was to find a...