Chapter 22: Someone’s Watching

First Person Past (Eva)

I woke up to sunlight streaming through sheer curtains, that kind of light that hinted at a brighter day ahead. For a brief moment, I let myself believe it. The warmth on my cheek and the gentle breeze lifting the edge of the sheets—it almost felt like tranquility.

Almost.

I sat up slowly, my feet meeting the chill of the marble floor. My heart was steady yet racing, as if it held secrets I wasn’t privy to.

I started humming to calm my nerves. It was a tune Liam used to whistle absentmindedly while making his tea. I used to tease him about it, but now it felt like a shield. Something real. Something of mine.

Today, I’d go to the hospital.

Today, I’d get answers.

By the time I finished my shower and blow-dried my hair, a sense of hope had built up in my chest, like holding my breath for too long. The air was filled with the fresh scents of clean cotton and minty shampoo. There were no footsteps outside my door, no knocks—just a peaceful silence.

Perfect.

I threw