STELLA

The note was there before the sun even rose.

Tucked into the slatted side vent of my bedroom window like it had been waiting for me. The wind had nearly carried it off, but something about it caught my eye as I opened the blinds.

Next time, run.

–V

That’s all it says.

And somehow, it’s worse than if it had said everything.

Because now I can’t breathe without thinking of that man’s breath on my neck.

Run?

What does he mean, run?

Hell, I was too dumb struck to even ...