Rowan's Point of ViewI had been sitting in my car for longer than I could measure, the engine long turned off, the silence around me stretching thin and heavy like something alive. From where I was parked, partially hidden by a cluster of trees, I had a clear view of the compound. And of her, Janet. I watched as she stepped out of the car earlier, surrounded by Peter, Dickson, and an older man I didn't recognize. They moved like a unit—close, protective, effortless in their familiarity.Dickson's body angled subtly toward her, his presence shielding without being obvious. Peter stayed close on her other side, watchful. They didn't just care about her. They protected her. The realization sat heavily in my chest, tightening with every passing second until it became hard to breathe.My fingers curled slowly around the steering wheel, the leather creaking softly under the pressure. I should have been the one standing beside her like that. I should have been the one she leaned on. But I
Read more