Hatred

JOSIE

This moment had to come. I knew that one day I would have to release all my hidden nightmares and face them. I hoped for a gentle approach, like when you enter a cold lake, taking slow, cautious steps while breathing deeply to get used to the temperature. Right now, I felt as if someone pushed me into the deep and icy sea, and I struggled to keep my head above the surface.

Adeline's ultimatum gave me only one option: I had to tell Killian the whole truth. I wasn't sure I could do it. Even admitting what needed to be done sent chills down my spine. He hadn't believed my words before. How could I assume he wouldn't trust the rumors instead of trusting me?

I'd been having nightmares for three days now, and each time they appeared, I saw my father's mortified face. I saw him kneeling in front of the police officers, convincing them all the accusations were wrong. And then my mind viciously displayed the scenes from that night he had fallen to the ground, slowly becoming lifeless.

I