Keith

The knocking starts soft, a dull thud against the door. I stare at the ceiling, unblinking, my body heavy and unmoving. The air in the room feels thick, stale, like I’m breathing through water. I don’t have the energy to speak. I don’t even have the will to move.

The knocking comes again, louder this time.

“Keith,” a voice calls. Deep, steady. Familiar.

Jace.

I roll onto my side, facing the wall. My fingers curl into the sheets. I don’t answer. Maybe if I stay still, he’ll leave.

“Keith,” he says again, sharper now. “Open the door.”

Silence stretches between us. The knocking continues, a rhythm that drills into...