Morning came slowly, creeping in through the wide windows and settling over the room in muted shades of gray. The soft light stretched across the polished floorboards, touching the edge of Ava's dress as she stood silently by the window.
She hadn't slept, not a second.
Her reflection on the glass looked almost unfamiliar. she looked pale, hollow-eyed, but calm in a way that didn't feel real. Her hands rested against the window frame, her fingers cold despite the morning warmth.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw the dark hallway again, the endless doors, the blinking red light of the camera. The realization that he had seen everything still burned in her chest like an ember that wouldn't go out.
A knock came at her door.
"Come in," Ava said quietly, her voice flat.
The door opened, and Clara stepped in, carrying her usual polished smile. "Good morning," she began, but the words faltered as soon as she saw Ava.
