Chapter 3

I walked straight into the bathroom and locked the door behind me.

The cold mirror reflected my pale, messy face, my eyes were red, and I couldn't hide the panic.

I turned on the shower, letting cold water pour down, the icy chill biting into my skin, trying to wash away all the heat and craziness burning inside me.

I kept telling myself, over and over: it was just a misunderstanding, just an accident. It was only my face-blindness playing tricks on me. I hadn't betrayed Eric.

But everything that happened last night was real. The truth was staring me in the face, and there was no way to talk my way out of it.

When I stepped out of the bathroom, the bedroom was already spotless. The blankets were neatly folded, clothes put away, no sign of the chaos from before. Only the faint scent left in the air reminded me that last night really happened.

The living room was lit only by a small, warm yellow nightlight. The gentle glow felt stifling, as if the air itself was heavy.

Jamie sat upright on the couch, back straight, hands on his knees. He wasn't on his phone, didn't move, just sat there quietly, like he was just a guest, careful not to overstep.

"Why aren't you sleeping?" I asked softly, keeping my distance.

"I'm afraid to sleep," Jamie said, looking up at me, his eyes were tired, but his expression was earnest.

"Why?" I asked.

"I'm worried that if I fall asleep, you'll be left alone, overthinking everything. And if I sleep too deeply, I might not wake up in time when Eric gets home. If I mess up even a little, it could blow everything up for you."

My chest fluttered, emotions swirling inside me, confusion, guilt, and something I couldn't quite name.

He was just twenty-two, still new to the world, but instead of running away from the disaster he'd caused, he kept his cool and quietly helped me pick up the pieces, way more mature than his age should allow.

"Your game doesn't start until ten. Why not get some rest?" I asked, deliberately changing the subject to break the awkwardness.

"No need," he said, shaking his head, his eyes never leaving my face. "Staying up all night is no big deal. Being a little tired during the game is nothing compared to worrying about you being anxious by yourself."

His words were way too gentle, crossing a line that made my heart clench. I felt a lump in my throat and quickly looked away, not daring to meet his eyes.

"Come sit," I said, scooting to the far end of the couch to put as much space between us as possible. "Let's just wait for Eric together."

He answered softly, "Okay."

In the cramped living room, we sat at opposite ends of the couch, the silence stretching on forever. There was no arguing, no questions, just the weight of our secrets and an awkwardness that wouldn't go away.

After a while, Jamie finally spoke up, breaking the silence. His voice was barely above a whisper. "Sis , do you often mistake people for someone else?"