Page 179 of When the Storm Breaks
Now I’ve settled into something quieter.
I still struggle, but I function.
I feed Margot and take her for a quick walk. When we get back, she waits patiently while I unclip her leash—
Then bolts.
Racing laps around the living room in a blur. And just as fast, she’s gone, sprinting down the hall.
I hear the rustle of sheets as she jumps into my bed, burrows intothe blankets, and finds her spot.
She’ll be there when I get home later. She always is.
I was supposed to switch back to nights this week.
Chase and I talked about it—how he thought I was ready. How “immersing myself back into society” might be good for me.
But I didn’t tell him what I did. Didn’t warn him about the oncoming storm.
The news broke.
And the town went crazy.
I figured it would happen eventually. I just didn’t know when.
I remember watching the headlines roll in, his name flashing across every screen. I shut off my phone. Turned off the TV. Started cooking dinner.
For the first time in months, the silence felt like peace.
Then Chase came bursting through the front door.
The sound slammed through the apartment, echoing hard off the walls. Margot leapt off the couch, hackles raised, ready to defend—but when she realized it was Chase, she sniffed him once and trotted back to me, curling up at my feet as I stood at the stove.
“Before you see the news—” Chase started, breathless.
“I did it.”
“Youwhat?”
“I couldn’t do it anymore.” I turned to face him. “It wasn’t my secret to protect. And it damn sure wasn’t mine to answer for.”
For a long second, he just stared at me, processing. Then he crossed the kitchen and pulled me into a hug, arms locked tight.
And I gave in to it. Let the comfort in. Hugged him just as hard and didn’t bother pretending I was okay.
When I finally pulled away, I realized something—he was waiting for me to let go first.
He shifted his weight, exhaling. “Stay on mornings. Just keep your head down for now.”
I nodded. I knew what he meant.
Avoid the chaos. The questions. The whispers.
When our eyes met again, we didn’t need to say anything else. We knew what happened. The damage. The war. The peace.
“I left Tanner alone. I gotta run back,” Chase said quietly. “Call if you need anything. Seriously.”
This morning, the bar is quiet.
