EmilyThe kiss was soft, almost gentle, and for a moment, I let myself sink into the warmth of Elliot’s embrace. His lips pressed against mine, a familiar comfort I had been starved of for so long. It felt like a balm, soothing the chaos inside me, like nothing else mattered except his touch. For those few seconds, I let go of everything—Cedric, the fear, the nightmare I had escaped from.But then, as quickly as the calm had come, a flash of memory pierced through the haze. Faces of the other girls—terrified, helpless—appeared in my mind. I couldn’t ignore them. I saw them again, huddled in that dark room, their muffled cries still echoing in my ears.My heart clenched painfully, and I pushed Elliot away, breaking the kiss. His eyes widened in surprise, searching mine for an explanation.“I can’t,” I said, my voice shaky as I pulled further away from him. “I can’t do this right now.”“Emily, what’s wrong?” he asked, frowning.I shook my head, my thoughts too scrambled to explain every
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