ARIA
I stared at his message for way too long.
There was no question mark, no urgency—just a simple "We need to talk." As if we were still functioning normally. As if I hadn't just gotten dragged out of a car, blindfolded, and tossed into some back-alley horror show where people like Mia never made it out alive.
My thumbs hovered over the keyboard and I left it on seen not sure of what to say back.
I peeled myself out of couch were I laid like corpse for a moment and moved like a ghost to my room. Every step felt heavier than the last, my limbs stiff and my brain foggy. My body had gotten some rest—forced or not—but my mind hadn't stopped running since last night. Every time I blinked, I saw smoke. I heard screaming.
I turned the tap and splashed cold water on my face. My reflection stared back, hollow-eyed and pale, with strands of hair sticking to damp cheeks. Once again I looked like someone who'd given up halfway through the fight but was too stubborn to stay down.
