Chapter 5

From the darkest hours of the night to the first glimmer of dawn, it felt like the pain would never end.

I kept picking at wounds that should've healed long ago, making them bleed all over again.

Those ugly memories kept flashing through my mind, over and over, refusing to let me go all these years.

At first, I was sobbing, hurling accusations, and pouring out all my pain. But as I kept talking, my words slowed, growing calm and almost detached.

I watched as Charles's face turned ghostly pale, his eyes clouded over with despair and agony.

Stirring up…