"Then that's on Daniel. Not you."
"But I could have—"
"Could have what? Read his mind? Known he was a predator?" Julian's voice turns sharp. "Don't do that to yourself. Don't take responsibility for his evil."
I want to argue. Want to scream that I should have seen the signs, should have known, should have protected her. But exhaustion crashes over me like a wave, pulling me under.
"I'm so tired," I whisper.
"I know." He pulls me against his chest, hand stroking my hair. "When's the last time you ate a full meal?"
I can't remember.
"Exactly." He kisses my forehead. "We're ordering Chinese. You're eating every bite. Then you're sleeping."
"Julian—"
"No arguments."
I let Julian order the food while I lie back against the pillows, closing my eyes. Just for a second.
But my hand finds my phone again.
Just one more look.
I scroll through the conversation again, where the messages get shorter, more desperate.
Dylan: babe wtf is going on
Claudia: I can't do this anymore
Dylan: can't do what? Talk to me
Claudia: Us. I can't do us.
Dylan: is this about that daniel guy
Claudia: I need to go
Dylan: claudia wait
Claudia: He's my life now. I can't get away from him.
Dylan: what does that mean
Claudia: I have to break up with you
Dylan: just tell me what's happening
Claudia: I can't
My chest constricts. I read it again. And again.
He's my life now. I can't get away from him.
Those words. The way she phrases it. Not "I don't want to" or "I love him." Butcan't.
Like she's trapped.
