ZURI

I paced the room for what felt like the hundredth time, pressing my bare feet into the soft rug as my mind burned with quiet fury. Everyone had decided that I needed to be protected again. That I was fragile, reckless, and incapable of handling danger on my own.

My fingers brushed against the sheets as I straightened them, tugging harder than necessary, pretending it was the face of every overprotective fool who thought I couldn’t take care of myself. The bed didn’t deserve the ...