Tilly POV
The window was still open.
I climbed through it. My hands were shaking. My legs were shaking. My whole body was shaking.
I landed on the floor and I held my breath.
Maybe she wasn't here. Maybe she had given up looking for me. Maybe I could just crawl into bed and pretend none of this had happened.
"Hello, Tilda."
I froze.
I turned around.
Cora-James was sitting on the edge of the bed. Her hands were folded in her lap. Her smile was wide. Her eyes filled with tears.
"Where have you been?" she asked. "I was looking all over for you."
I couldn't speak. My throat was tight. My heart was pounding so hard I could hear it in my ears.
She stood up. She walked toward me. Her footsteps were light. Delicate. Like a cat.
"Cora-James." I took a step back. "Don't hurt me anymore. I didn't mean to hit you. I swear!"
She stopped in front of me with this look of relief in her eyes.
