Twelve

Stella,

Kai and my dad have infuriated me at this moment. I'm exhausted from being treated like a child. I've already endured so much, and now they want to control my life as well. Realizing that my dad and Kai are in cahoots, I storm off to my room and begin packing my clothes, reluctantly accepting my fate like a compliant girl.

As I reach my room, I recall leaving my phone on the bed before taking a shower. I go to retrieve it, but suddenly, I freeze in place. My hands tremble so violently that I can barely hold onto my phone. Sliding down onto the floor, I call out for my dad, feeling utterly lost and unsure of what to do next.

To my surprise, my dad and Kai rushed into my room within seconds. Dad inquires about what's wrong and then hands my phone to Kai. He then pulls me onto his lap, reminiscent of when I was a child.

"What on earth is happening?" Dakoda enters my room, casually draped in a bath towel, seemingly unfazed by the situation.

"He... he's here," I manage to stamm