Inside the apartment, the air felt heavier than usual, thick with silence. Chloe shut the door behind them, leaning her forehead against the wood as if the solid surface could steady her. Her pulse still thundered in her ears from the scene outside.

Zoe crossed her arms, her eyes never leaving Chloe. “Alright,” she said firmly. “Sit. Start talking. All of it. No excuses, no half-truths. I need to know what’s really going on with you.”

Chloe dragged herself to the couch, sinking ...