**monster**

The morning light seeped through the curtains, hazy and soft, as I pulled myself out of the chair, my body stiff from a night spent slouched in an awkward position. I hadn’t intended to sleep, but exhaustion had won over obviously. The sight of Lucas, still unmoving on the bed, was also, in a way, a reminder that this wasn’t some nightmare I could shake off.

I freshened up quickly, splashing water on my face to bring myself fully awake. After pulling on some comfortable ...