Chapter Eleven: wanting to Face it Alone.

Nicholas's POV

The door closed softly behind Emma, leaving me ensnared in the echoing silence of my room. I stared at the spot where she'd been standing just moments ago, trying to banish the bitter coil of frustration lodged in my chest. I didn’t want to be cruel to her, but it was hard to control the rage that I had inside of me now, and I hated that she pitied me. I clenched my fists, a futile gesture meant to rekindle a sense of the control I so desperately missed.

The pile of clothes on my bed taunted me. Getting changed for bed should’ve been a routine task, but now it felt like I was staring up at an unclimbable mountain. The thought of calling Emma back to help rattled in my mind. But my pride dug in its heels. I couldn’t—wouldn’t—admit that I needed someone else to perform even the most basic tasks for me.

With a determined grunt, I reached for my pyjama pants, only to have them slip through my fingers and fall to the floor. “Come on, dammit.” I leaned precariously over the e