Ethan POVThe door closed behind me with a soft click.

For a second, I just stood there.

Watching her.

Emma sat at the edge of the bed, shoulders slightly slumped, like the strength holding her up downstairs had finally slipped. The light in the room fell gently over her face, and I could still see it—the fear that hadn’t fully left, hiding behind the calm she tried to show.

She was here.

Alive.

Breathing.

My chest tightened.

I moved closer, slow, like anything too sudden might break the ...