(Karen → Dre → Yasmin POV — Present Tense) KAREN’S POV

The notification chimes at 2:14 a.m.

One soft vibration against the nightstand — harmless, almost apologetic — like the universe is pretending it isn’t about to carve something out of me.

I’m half asleep when I reach for the phone, eyes blurry, breath slow.

For a moment, things are quiet. Safe.

I almost believe the world has stopped trying to hurt me.

Then I see it.

A message from an unknown number.

No words.

Just the ...