TESSA'S POV~
"Take the next turn," I told the driver, keeping my voice deliberately low, as though speaking any louder might crack something fragile inside me.
He nodded once, a tight, professional gesture, eyes never leaving the road as he flicked the indicator on and obeyed. The taxi veered smoothly, tires hissing softly against the asphalt.
Silence settled in the car, thick and suffocating. It pressed against my ears, broken only by the steady hum of the engine and the distant, muffled sounds of traffic bleeding in through the closed windows—horns, tires, a city that kept moving without me. I leaned back against the seat, the worn leather cool against my spine, and curled my fingers tightly around my phone as if it were the only solid thing anchoring me in place.
We'll figure it out. Just don't panic.
