PROLOGUE

I jolted awake, gasping for air, the remnants of a nightmare still clinging to my skin like sweat. My chest rose and fell in quick, shallow breaths, as if I had been drowning in my sleep. The room was dim, lit only by the faint orange glow of the streetlamp filtering through the curtains. It was 5:00 a.m., and the silence outside felt too heavy—like the world itself was holding its breath.

Sleep abandoned me, so I dragged myself out of bed, my feet cold against the wooden floor. The creak of the floorboards beneath my feet seemed amplified in the stillness. In the kitchen, I filled the kettle and watched as steam began to rise. The soft whistle of boiling water felt like the only sound tethering me to the present. I poured it over a teabag and cradled the mug in my hands, hoping the warmth would chase away the chill inside me.

Still feeling uneasy, I changed into my jogging clothes. Maybe running would clear my mind, maybe I'd outrun the weight pressing on my chest. I set out just as the sky began to blush with the first hints of dawn. The air was crisp, with a hint of dew and morning promise. My feet pounded the pavement rhythmically—step, breath, heartbeat—until time slipped by unnoticed.

As I ran, my thoughts drifted to the past, to the memories I'd rather forget. But they lingered, like shadows in the corners of my mind. I pushed myself harder, trying to outrun the memories that haunted me. But they kept pace with me, their presence a constant reminder of what I'd endured.

At exactly 7:00 a.m., I slowed to a walk, the edge of exhaustion humming in my legs. Just as I turned the corner toward home, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I glanced at the screen. Auntie. My heart skipped a beat as I answered, wiping sweat from my brow. "Hello, Aunt?"

Her voice came through, low and cautious. "Chin... she's here again. She's been coming back for the past week." I stopped walking, my mind racing with questions. "Did she say anything?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

"She's asking for your contact information. She wants to meet you—to beg for forgiveness again." A strange tightness gripped my chest. "She did?" I repeated, my voice barely above a whisper.

"She even told me why he did that to you," she said carefully. "I won't interfere. But... my only advice is—please don't hurt yourself." The line went quiet. I couldn't speak. My throat felt dry, as if her words had sucked all the air from the world around me.

After a moment, my aunt sighed deeply. That sigh said everything she didn't—her worry, her helplessness, her love. Then the call ended. And I stood there, still as stone, phone pressed to my ear, heart unraveling one silent second at a time.

The world around me seemed to fade away, leaving only the echoes of my aunt's words. I felt like I was drowning in a sea of emotions, unsure of how to keep my head above water. But I knew I had to keep moving forward, no matter how hard it got.

***Download NovelToon to enjoy a better reading experience!***