By the time my shift finally ended, I was barely holding it together. My feet felt like lead, my back throbbed from hours of running around, and exhaustion clung to me like a second skin.

At the nurse's station, I paused for a moment, my hand pressed to the cool countertop. The idea of going home surfaced in my mind, but after the dream I had, I didn't need a rocket scientist to tell me that I needed to stay the hell away.

Steeling myself, I pulled out my phone and scrolled down until I found Stefan's number. He picked up on the third ring, greeting me with his usual warmth that always made me feel better. "Everything okay, Cookie?"

"Yeah." I lied. "Hey, can you please book me an Airbnb? Someplace nearby?"

There was a pause. A long one.

"Sienna?" Stefan called after a while, a note of concern creeping into his voice. I could almost picture his brow furrowing over the line.

I forced a casual tone. "Yeah?"

"What's going on? Did something happen?"

"No." Another lie. "I just need to clear my head. Hormones, you know? And I can't deal with Tristan right now."

There was another pause.

The silence stretched and tightened between us. After some time, he exhaled. "Okay. I'll find a place and come get you. Stay put, alright?"

Relief washed over me. "Thank you," I whispered.

After hanging up, I wrapped up at the nurse's station, filing reports, and whatnot. When I finished, I packed up my things in the locker room and said a quick goodbye to Ayesha. She gave me a look that was both curious and concerned, but she didn't press, for which I was grateful. I dragged my tired feet to the elevator right after. The doors slid open with a soft chime and I stepped inside, leaning heavily against the mirrored wall. My reflection looked back at me, haunted and worn.

By the time I stepped into the cold night air, Stefan was already waiting by his car, hands tucked into his pockets. He straightened when he saw me, giving me a once-over that was far more playful than it should have been. "You look like you've been through hell," he teased, opening the passenger door.

I climbed in with a groan, sinking into the seat. "Thanks, Stefan. Just the boost I needed."

His laugh was warm, a balm against the exhaustion dragging me down. "Just saying." He quipped, shutting the door and rounding the car to his seat.

We drove in silence for a while, the city's golden lights smearing into trails as we sped through the night. I leaned my head against the cool glass of the window, my mind a whirlpool of emotions. Tristan's face kept surfacing in my mind, unbidden, relentless. Would he even notice if I was gone? Would it matter to him? A part of me, the part that still cared for him wondered what he was up to now. Probably wallowing in self-pity and drinking into a stupor. My heart ached, heavy. How did we fall this far?

My phone suddenly buzzed in my purse, jolting me back to reality. I dug it out and stiffened when I saw Tristan's name flash on my screen.

Speak of the devil.

I didn't pick up. I couldn't. I stared at it, watching the call ring out until the screen dimmed.

Stefan shot me a quick glance. "Who is it?"

"Tristan," I admitted, voice tight.

Almost immediately, my phone buzzed again, this time with a string of messages.

Tristan: Where are you?

Tristan: It's late.

Tristan: Answer your phone.

Tristan: We need to talk.

I stared at the words, unsure of what to feel.

"You should pick up," Stefan said gently, his voice low.

I shook my head. "I can't deal with him right now."

My phone buzzed again. I looked down.

Tristan: Come home, Sienna.

Home.

That wasn't my home anymore.

"You know," Stefan started, "if he finds out I'm helping you dodge him he'll probably cut my balls off."

I knew he'd meant that as a joke but I couldn't help but feel guilty. I sighed. "I'm sorry for always dragging you into our mess, Stefan."

"Hey," he said softly, reaching over to take my hand in his. "Don't be. I'm here because I want to be. You're not in this alone, Sienna."

His words made my throat tighten and I looked away, ashamed of the tears stinging my eyes. "It doesn't feel that way," I murmured. "Not when Tristan keeps pulling away."

"Tristan just needs some time. I'm sure he'll come around."

I groaned, pulling my hand away. "Stop making excuses for him. I'm so tired of people telling me to be patient. How long am I supposed to wait for him to get it together?"

He exhaled. "I know you don't want me making excuses for him, and I won't. But I do think... I think he's probably just scared, overwhelmed by everything. It doesn't justify how he's been acting, but maybe it explains some of it."

I bit my lip, trying to hold back a wave of frustration. "I'm scared too. But I don't hurt the people I love. I don't make them feel... I just don't hurt them."

"Fair point. But you and I know he's not like us. He's complicated. He processes things differently, thinks differently."

"You know what, I don't even want to talk about it anymore."

"Sienna—"

"Please."

He sighed, reaching for my hand again and squeezing hard. "Everything's gonna be fine."

Except, it didnt feel like it was.

I didn't answer him, just stared out the window, fighting back my tears.

The rest of the drive was quiet, heavy with unspoken words. Stefan eventually pulled up to a small house tucked away on a quiet street. He parked, then got out to walk me to the door.

"Here you go," he said, pressing the keys into my hand. "I'll be back with some clothes and food. Just try to get some rest, okay?"

I nodded. "Thanks, Stefan."

I watched him drive off, then opened the front door and stepped into the cozy little space. It smelled faintly of vanilla, decorated with warm tones and a plush couch that looked far too inviting.

The bathroom was a tad too small but it would do. Dragging my exhausted body inside, I flipped the faucet, and the room quickly filled with swirling steam, fogging up the mirror and erasing everything else. Stripping off my clothes, I stepped into the bath, sighing deeply as the heat kissed my skin and worked its way into my bones.

Gradually I could feel the tension in my muscles loosening. My back ached less and my feet seemed to melt.

But the chaos inside my head didn't ease so easily.

My thoughts refused to quiet, pulling me back into the shadows of that nightmare. The vivid images came back in stark detail: Tristan's hands shoving me away, the sharp edge of the stairs, the terrifying sensation of gravity yanking me down.

A shiver raced through me and goosebumps rose even under the hot water. I squeezed my eyes shut, willing the memories to fade. It had been just a dream. A horrible, too-real dream.

But dreams didn't leave you this unsettled, did they?

Why did it feel like an echo of something waiting to happen?

After what felt like forever, I finally climbed out, reluctantly leaving the safety of the steaming bath. I wrapped myself in the soft, plush robe the host had provided, tying it tightly around my waist.

Padding into the living room, I collapsed onto the overstuffed couch. The softness swallowed me whole, and for a moment, I let myself drift, lulled by the quiet hum of the room.

But the fragile calm was shattered by a knock at the door. My heart lurched, and I shot upright, pulse thundering. Was Stefan back already? I crept to the door, peeking cautiously through the peephole. Relief swept over me when I saw him standing there, a duffel bag slung over one shoulder and a takeout bag in his other hand.

I swung the door open, and he grinned. "Delivery!"

I stepped aside, a smile breaking through my exhaustion. "You're the best, you know that?"

He walked in, setting the bags on the round table. "I do. And I never get tired of hearing it, so feel free to keep that coming." He started unpacking, pulling out containers of steaming takeout. "So I got some spicy Thai noodles," he announced, opening all the lids. "Chinese fried rice with lots of veggies, of course, and then I also got some chicken noodle soup and lo mein. Which one do you want to start with?"

I rubbed my forehead, the thought of eating making my stomach churn. "Stefan... I don't think I'm really hungry."

He frowned. "What? Why?"

I stared at the spread, my appetite nonexistent. "I just don't have it in me right now," I murmured, my voice small.

"Miss ma'am, you need to eat."

My shoulders slumped. "I just—"

"Doesn't matter," he cut in. "You have to eat for the babies. A few bites, at least."

I knew he was right, but the mere thought of food made me nauseous. Still, the way he was looking at me left no room for argument. "Alright," I conceded. "Just a little."

He grinned. "Let's start with the lo mein."

We settled at the small dining table, steam rising from the containers. I picked up a fork, just about to take a bite, when another knock echoed through the room, loud and jarring.

We both paused, exchanging confused glances.

"Were you expecting anyone else?" Stefan asked, his brow furrowing.

I shook my head, a knot of anxiety forming in my chest. "No,"

Stefan's expression shifted, growing more serious. "I'll get it," he offered, pushing his chair back and standing.

He walked to the front door, each step echoing in the quiet space, and I held my breath, nerves fraying at the edges.

Stefan unlocked the door and pulled it open, and the next thing I heard was a sharp gasp. "Oh, crap."

Fear prickled up my spine. I pushed myself to my feet, moving towards him. "Stefan, who is it?" I asked, my voice wavering.

Stefan turned, his face a mix of surprise and worry. He didn't need to answer. My eyes followed his, and my heart froze in my chest.