I spun towards her, furious. “What the fuck do you want? Piss off!”
Lyra’s face went white and she scurried away. Fucking empath parasite. One mediocre fuck and she thinks she knows me.
There was only one girl who truly knew me.
I turned back toward her table.
Toward the girl I’d known better than myself.
The one I’d buried three years ago when I left her behind.
“Just get me my meeting.”
Chapter 7
Seph
I dropped my fork and shot to my feet.
What was I supposed to do?
Part of me wanted to run to him—to grab him, hit him, demand answers.
Why did you leave me? Where have you been?
Why did you leave me with them?
Why did you choose her?
Why didn’t you take me too?
But he was here.
In prison.
Myprison.
I turned, scanning for an exit—any exit. The walls felt too close, the air too thin. If I stayed, I’d break.
If I ran, I might still break—but at least I’d be alone.
“Where are you going?” Jess asked, her tone edged with something almost like concern.
“Bathroom,” I blurted, already moving.
She pointed vaguely, and I bolted.
The moment the stall door shut, I locked it and sank down onto the seat. My hands were shaking. I tried to breathe. In. Out. Calm.
Why couldn’t I calm down?
The bathroom was empty—thank God. The hum of the vents filled the silence, steady and low. I pressed my palms to my face and forced air through my lungs until the trembling dulled.
Then I reached for my bracelet, clutching the beads until they bit into my skin.
You’re okay, sis,I could almost hear her whisper.Everything’s okay.
Shut up.
