The Breaking Point

Josie

I kept staring at the path long after Kiel was gone, like maybe—just maybe—he'd change his mind and come back for me. But he didn't. Of course he didn't. The rooftop was silent now, except for the barely-there sound of the guards' heavy boots behind me.

They hadn't moved an inch. Useless statues. Watching me, judging me, breathing like their presence was supposed to mean something. I hated them. I hated that they were there to witness me fall apart.

I hated even more that I'd let myself fall for any of them.

My fingers trembled as I dragged them through my hair, fighting off the sting in my chest. I wanted to scream, to rip off the jacket Kiel had given me and throw it off the roof, but I couldn't. It still smelled like him. And that made it worse.