~ Adeline ~

The door shuts.

It's only a small sound, a quiet sound, but it slices into me like the chilly hard edge of a blade, soundless but unforgiving. I just stand there for a moment, blankly staring at it, as if perhaps it would slowly open by itself and let me in. But it doesn't. It just sits shut.

A creeping cold seeps down my back.

I don't even move at first. My eyes stay fixed on the door like I could see if I stood in front of it, like the space between us would close if I ...