Blue
Clinic – Midnight
I couldn’t sleep. Not with pain stitched across my ribs and fear curled in my gut like a second heart.
The door creaked.
I expected Faron.
But it was Emery. Calm as ever. Holding a thermos like it was a weapon against the night.
“Brought tea,” she said, setting it down beside me.
“Did they find her?”
Emery smiled. “Safe. The team got there just in time.”
I sagged back, tears burning my eyes. “How many more are on the list?”
“Too many.”
“I want to help.”
“You already are,” she whispered. “You’re the reason this fight matters. Because you refused to stop caring.”
I wiped at my face.
“Julia’s Place opens in a week,” she said. “Kat’s painting murals. The kids keep asking when you’ll be back.”
I stared up at the ceiling.
“I’ll be there,” I whispered. “Even if I have to crawl.”