DAPHNE’s POV

They said he was safe.

But I didn’t believe it. Not really. Not until I heard his voice with my own ears.

My heels clicked against the tiled floor, too sharp, too loud. The sound bounced down the sterile hallway like a countdown I didn’t want to reach the end of.

My chest felt like it was cracking open, each step rattling through me.

I was moving too fast, almost running. My palms slick, throat raw from crying. The fluorescent lights above buzzed, harsh and relentless, like ...