As Eli and I stumbled through the night, fear gnawing at our insides, questions plagued my mind. Why? Why would Jared, the man I had shared a life with, want us gone? The thought of betrayal was a cold knife in my heart, one that twisted deeper with every step we took away from our home.
Reaching Mrs. Leverne’s house felt like surfacing for air after being submerged too long. I knocked frantically, praying she was home. Her porch light flicked on, and her silhouette appeared behind the lace curtains. Within moments, the door swung open, revealing a concerned Mrs. Leverne.
“Claire? Eli? What on earth—?” Her voice was laced with alarm as she took in our disheveled state.
