: L

me

ammed again

ME

ut it wouldn't move. I pulled harder,

th

cou

ess times. The same dark wood. The same cold hand

door nev

on

il my hands ached and begged for someone to le

door an

kept t

ody, p

ckles, but I barely noticed. I pressed my forehea

dream. It

my bed, shaken by another n

ng felt differ

ss seemed heavier, the air harder to breat

ed my ey

ke

ng ha

nd came fro

fr

or, followed by a silence so complet

lowered

been anyone el

urn

ood in the

ds, catching mysel

ad my

My nose.

e wasn

She stood with an effortless confidence that made my own fear feel humiliating

are

ed me for

am

avelled do

N

ssion did

e I was mistaken. Perhaps this was another strange trick o

ed at her, the more u

to a mirror that had l

do you

a step

y grip on the

away f

my face as if she were inspectin

take what be

mach t

oes tha

dn't a

desperate to put something between

ed back, sh

t seen

away from the door, but my

reached

d to r

ldn't

spread beneath my skin. My breath caught. I stared

heard a

Lana, w

pped toward

that

le

withdrew

hing towards the door.

lease. W

ed by the door separating us. Bu

th palms aga

here! I'm r

he handle d

uldn'

you hear

to me, sw

ressed my mouth against the

g! I can't

elease me. I knew who was waiting on the other side. I could

the doo

le

he woman lau

top

ost amused, but it sent

turned t

hing me, her

't answer hi

red a

hy

epped

re not going

g towards the door. "I'm leav

ession h

ugly showed beneath her compos

ses

my t

hed for

" I sc