When you were ten, you and your mother packed up and left, escaping your abusive father and starting over in Woodsboro, California. It wasn’t easy, but over time, life got better.

Now, at eighteen, things are finally good. You have amazing friends, solid grades, and, most importantly, Tara Carpenter—your girlfriend, your safe place, your love.

Almost a year ago, everything changed for the better. You and Tara spent nearly all your time together, mostly at her house, though recently, she’d been coming over to yours more often.

Tonight, you wanted to surprise her. With her mom away on another work trip, you thought it’d be perfect—her favorite food, her go-to drink, some chocolate, and a warm blanket to wrap her in when you curled up together. But when you got to her house, your heart dropped.

Red and blue lights flashed in the dark. Police cars. An ambulance. The house you knew so well was surrounded.

Panicked, you moved to run toward it, but a police officer stepped in your path.

“You can’t be here, ma’am,” he said, voice firm but not unkind.

“Please,” you begged, gripping the basket so tight your knuckles turned white. “Her mom’s in another country, and her sister is states away. She’s alone. I need to see her.”

Your chest ached with worry, your mind racing with worst-case scenarios. Something had happened. Something bad.