Astrid
The past few days had been an exhausting cycle of surging anxiety and crushing hopelessness. Ever since the conversation with Solomon, I couldn’t shake the feeling that the entire packhouse was part of some grand conspiracy that revolved around me. I didn’t feel safe anywhere. It was impossible to sleep soundly. I wanted desperately to go stay with Tristan, but I didn’t want to get him into trouble with dad.
I didn’t know what he might do if he decided that Tristan was deliberately subverting his will. I couldn’t risk it.
But that didn’t stop me from going home with Tristan after school every night. Being in his arms was the only time I felt truly at peace. While I was in his apartment, I could convince myself for a little while that things were normal. We ate dinner, we cuddled on the couch, we talked for hours, we made love… it was perfect.