The Inescapable Photograph

VANESSA

The car rolled smoothly along the winding road back to the pack territory, enveloping Leo and me in a comfortable silence. The steady hum of tires against pavement matched the quiet rhythm of my thoughts. I watched as the last remnants of the roguelands disappeared in the side mirror, replaced by the familiar forested landscape of our territory.

"You've been quiet," Leo said, glancing at me before returning his eyes to the road. "Are you okay?"

I forced a smile. "Just tired. It's been... a lot."

"The memory recovery?"

I nodded, watching the sunlight filter through the trees outside. "It feels strange, you know? Like I'm a trespasser in my own life, trying to make sense of memories that don't quite fit together."

"I can't imagine what that's like," Leo admitted, his knuckles whitening slightly on the steering wheel.