Of course not.
I press my fingers briefly against my temple.
Think.
Focus.
Don’t waste energy.
Don’t panic.
I’ve been in worse.
I have.
Not like this.
But close enough.
I lower myself slowly to sit against the wall.
Conserve energy.
Slow my breathing.
Stay sharp.
Because someone will come.
They always do.
And when they do—
I’ll be ready.
I close my eyes briefly.
Just for a second.
And without meaning to—
His face flashes in my mind.
Clay.
The way he looked at me before he walked out.
Frustrated.
Angry.
Unfinished.
My jaw tightens.
“Idiot,” I mutter under my breath.
Because if he finds out about this—
