EMMA POV

The wall felt cold against my back. I pressed harder. Couldn’t stop shaking. The towel stuck to my skin, damp, slipping, and my fingers gripped it so tight it hurt. Nails digging in. My body screamed. My chest thudded too fast, too uneven. I could still feel him — Ethan — not beside me, not touching me, but still everywhere. The air was heavy, like it had swallowed him whole and left the echo behind.

“You’re trembling,” he said. Voice low. Cold. Too soft to sound human. ...