175. Unhealed wound

Abigail's POV -

I step out of the scalding hot shower, my skin reddened from the almost unbearable heat. Clad in a bathrobe, I cling to it as if it's my only shield against the world. Each step feels like a monumental effort; my entire body throbs with pain. The burn marks from those wretched cigarettes on my chest sting, but they're nothing compared to the searing agony in my soul.

I struggle to walk steadily, my legs wobbly and uncooperative. My wrist, where the cigarette had mercilessly kissed my skin, sends sharp waves of pain up my arm. Still, I choose to bear these physical wounds rather than the emotional torment that haunts me.

Gingerly, I lower myself onto the edge of the bed, the soft mattress offering some relief to my aching body. My phone rests on the nightstand, a lifeline to the outside world. I long to hear Chloe's comforting voice, to have a friend who can share my pain and offer solace.

But before I can dial her number, I sense a presence behind me. Warmth envelopes m