Iyisha woke to light slipping through the hall windows. Voices carried faintly from somewhere beyond the door. She stayed still, listening, letting the sound pull her fully awake.
She turned her head. The space beside her was empty. Malcolm was gone.
That part was familiar. He was always gone before she opened her eyes. Still, she remained where she was, staring at the ceiling, counting her breaths, wishing he had stayed just a little longer. The thought made her uneasy. Wanting him to stay felt like asking for something she could not afford.
When she finally moved, the first thing she noticed was how her body felt. Clean. Lighter. Her clothes were not the ones she remembered wearing. The memory of the night pressed back in, slow and unwanted, and warmth crept up her neck as understanding followed.
Malcolm must have done it.
