Chapter 16 An Old Friend

• 'Alessia
• The moment I stepped into my apartment, I felt the tension in my shoulders ease, if only slightly. The space, small and familiar, offered a semblance of comfort I desperately needed. The events of the night weighed on me like a heavy cloak, and as I slipped out of my heels, I headed straight for the bathroom.
• Steam filled the room as I turned on the hot water, the sound of the shower a soothing white noise in the background. Stripping off the dress—the red dress that now felt like a costume—I stepped under the spray, letting the warmth wash over me.