Lily Thompson The house was too quiet. Every tick of the clock felt louder than it should have. Every shadow on the wall felt heavier. I sat on the couch with Isabella’s blanket in my lap, pressing it to my face, breathing in what was left of her scent. It was faint now, but it was still there. And it hurt. We had been so close. She had been right there. The blankets, the bottles, the chains bolted to the wall — proof that she had been trapped in that cold, filthy place. Proof that we had missed her by hours, maybe minutes. If we had been faster, smarter, braver… she would be home right now. Instead, she was still out there. Alone. I clutched the blanket tighter, rocking without realizing it. My chest felt hollow, my stomach sick. My baby was gone, and I had no idea how to bring her back. Theo came in quietly, setting his laptop on the table. He didn’t speak at first. He just sat beside me, close but not too close, waiting. Finally, he said, “You’ve been sitting he
Last Updated : 2025-11-20 Read more