: : : Sophie : : :
I have to force myself to finish the glass of milk, trying to calm the storm inside me. But even after I return to my room and lie back down, sleep doesn’t come easily. My mind keeps replaying the kiss, the way Jayden made me feel, and the conflict it stirs within me.
By the time the first light of dawn starts creeping through the curtains, I’ve barely slept at all. I get up, feeling restless, and walk over to the window. The world outside is still shrouded in the soft gray of early morning.
And that’s when I see him — Kieran.
He’s walking toward the woods, his silhouette barely visible in the dim light. Something about the way he moves, the determination in his stride, his presence alone… It’s calling out to me. It’s drawing me in.
Without thinking, I grab a jacke
