Zoe's POV
The humid air clung to my skin as I stepped into my room that night.
For the first time in a long while I felt… some bit of relief.
It wasn't peace exactly, but something close — like a weight had been lifted, even if only halfway. The house was quiet, the faint buzz of crickets seeping through the open window. My sandals thudded softly against the wooden floor as I shut the door behind me and leaned on it, exhaling.
I was home. Safe.
At least, that's what I told myself.
I walked over to my mirror, dragging my fingers through my tangled hair. My reflection stared back at me — a little flushed, a little shaken, but glowing in a way I hadn't seen in a long time. Then it hit me.
The kiss. That kiss.
It came rushing back in fragments — soft, electric, and dizzying all at once. My breath caught.
I pressed my fingertips gently to my lips, staring at the mirror as if it might replay the moment for me. My heart fluttered in my chest, too wild to contain.
