Chapter 219 - At 3am

It’s 3 a.m. and I’m sitting on my bed, my palms pressed hard into the mattress as if it can keep me from falling apart. The world is silent except for the faint hum of the fridge downstairs and the occasional car passing far away. My phone screen is blank. No messages. No calls.

I should feel relieved. This is what I wanted,  no Liam. No drama. No chaos. Just space to breathe. And yet… here I am. Wide awake, heart clawing at my ribs like it’s trying to escape.

I tilt my head toward the window. The sky outside is black, endless. It feels like it’s pressing down on me. I wonder if he’s awake somewhere, thinking of me too. Wondering if I miss him.

The thought makes me groan. I squeeze my eyes shut, press my palms to my face, try to force myself back to sleep. I try counting backwards. I try focusing on the sound of my breathing. Nothing works.

This ache in my chest, low and heavy, won’t go away. It’s like