I lay on the bed, cool sheets pulled back as I gazed out the window at the moon casting silvery beams into the room. The distant sound of the ocean was soothing, contrasting the turmoil in my mind.
Jack was restless, tossing and turning, oblivious to the unease he caused me. My heart raced as I tried to find calm amidst his chaos. It was frustrating that I should be the one guiding him, but he remained unaware of his impact on others. What if he crossed more lines, thinking everything was permissible as long as I stayed silent? That thought twisted uncomfortably in my stomach, fueling my anxiety. Ember, my inner voice of reason, grew more exasperated with each moment, trapped in a storm of worry about his ignorance and its potential consequences.
As her incessant chatter pounded in my h
