CASEY
As I left the room and made my way up the stairs, Jasper's words followed me.
"He really, really likes you.'
The words echoed louder with each step, bouncing in my chest, beating against the guilt I still carried. I let the words sit with me, let them breathe inside me, because they were the only piece of hope I had right now with Cesar.
I found a guest room and quietly slipped inside. The moment the door shut behind me, I exhaled for what felt like the first time since all of this started. I walked over to the sink and turned on the tap, splashing my face with cold water. I reached for the soft towel hanging nearby and patted my skin dry.
Then I looked up. The mirror didn't lie. My eyes were swollen, red. My lips were still trembling. I looked.... Tired.... Beaten. I rested my palms on the counter, leaned forward, and whispered to myself,
"You're strong. You got through worse. You can do this." A breath.