I closed the door to her room gently, letting the faint sound of the latch echo in the quiet hallway. For a moment, I stood there, my hand still gripping the doorknob, unsure if I should go back in. The image of her lying there, so small and broken, burned into my mind. She had barely spoken, yet her silence said enough. Turning away, I walked down the hall. My footsteps felt heavier with each step. The soft glow of the rain outside spilled through the windows, streaking shadows across the floor. The storm outside matched the one inside me. I couldn’t stop seeing her face—her tear-soaked cheeks, the way she flinched when I tried to calm her like she expected even my kindness to come with a blade. I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms. It wasn’t supposed to be like this. She deserved better than this world. Better than him. Dropping into the chair in the sitting room, I leaned forward and rested my elbows on my knees. My head fell into my hands as anger simmered be
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