Penelope's POV

I haven't left my room for three days.

The pain in my chest hasn't gotten better. If anything, it's worse. Every breath feels like a broken glass scraping against my ribs. Lyra keeps whimpering in my head, this low, constant sound that makes me want to scream.

How could I have been so stupid? All those years of watching Timothy from across classrooms and hallways, thinking maybe he saw me too. All those dreams about him choosing me, about love conquering everything. What an ...