Pauline's POV
I had never experienced such vulnerability in my entire existence.
Under the harsh fluorescent lighting of a cramped pharmacy, surrounded by strangers whose bodies pressed too close in the confined space, I felt completely naked despite being fully clothed.
The plan had seemed foolproof. I had waited until darkness fell, pulled my hood up high, wrapped my scarf around my neck like armor, and chosen the most anonymous location I could find. Miles away from Apex, distant from prying eyes, removed from anyone who might recognize my face and spread whispers about my presence.
Yet here I stood, discovering I wasn't alone in seeking the shelter of shadows for desperate errands.
The queue snaked nearly to the entrance, and each small sound felt amplified - every clearing of throats, every nervous footstep seemed to thunder louder than my racing heartbeat.
