All Chapters of THE ART OF FALLING : Chapter 61 - Chapter 65

Chapter 61 Nora woke up just before dawn with her heart racing. For a few disoriented seconds, she didn’t know where she was. The ceiling above her wasn’t familiar, the light too dim, the air too quiet. Then the memories rushed in all at once on campus, the quad, the photo, the eyes, the whispers. Her chest tightened. She rolled onto her side and reached out instinctively. Empty. “Jaden?” Her voice came out hoarse. The door to the bedroom opened almost immediately. “I’m here,” he said softly. He’d clearly never gone to sleep. His hoodie was still on, his hair slightly damp like he’d washed his face one too many times. There was something taut about him, like a wire pulled too tight. Nora pushed herself up, the blanket sliding down her arms. “Why are you awake?” Jaden hesitated. That alone told her everything. “You got another message,” she said. It wasn’t a question. His jaw flexed. “Yeah.” Her stomach dropped. “What did it say?” He crossed the room and sat on the edge

Chapter 63 Morning arrived quietly, as if it knew better than to rush her. Nora woke to light first not harsh, not blinding, just a pale ribbon slipping through the crack in the curtains and settling gently across the wall. For a few seconds, she didn’t move. She stayed still, listening. The city outside was awake, but distant. Cars passed somewhere far below. A door opened and closed in another apartment. Life continued, but it wasn’t pressing in on her. Her body felt heavy in the best way. Warm. Safe. She shifted slightly and felt it immediately the steady rise and fall beneath her cheek, the familiar rhythm she’d learned by heart long before everything broke. Jaden’s chest. His arm around her waist, relaxed even in sleep, like it had never considered leaving. Her breath caught, not in fear, but in awe. I slept. Not the half-sleep she’d been trapped in for weeks. Not the shallow drifting where nightmares lurked just beneath the surface. This had been real rest. Deep. Dream

Chapter 65 The second time Nora stepped outside, she didn’t brace herself. That surprised her more than anything. It wasn’t bravery exactly, it was quieter than that. More like trust. Trust in the way Jaden walked beside her without rushing. Trust in the way Trisha had texted her three times that morning just to say I’m here. Trust in her own body for not betraying her with panic the moment the door closed behind her. They didn’t go far. Just the corner store. It was ordinary in every possible way. Bright fluorescent lights. Narrow aisles. A bell that chimed softly when the door opened. Nora paused just inside, letting her eyes adjust, letting her chest settle. Jaden didn’t say a word. He didn’t point out exits. He didn’t scan the room dramatically. He just stood close enough that their shoulders brushed, grounding without hovering. “You okay?” he asked quietly. “Yes,” she said and meant it. “Just… give me a second.” He nodded. “Take all the seconds you need.” She moved do