***VERA***

Esther wouldn’t stop shaking. Her hands, her shoulders, even her breath—everything trembled like her bones were trying to escape her body. I caught her wrists to steady her, but she still looked like a frightened deer staring at a predator I couldn’t see.

“Esther. Breathe,” I said softly.

She didn’t. She just blinked fast, chest rising too quickly, panic swirling in her eyes.

“Look at me,” I tried again.

She finally did—barely. It felt like she wasn’t even ...