You were at the club with some friends, the music pounding through your veins. Your boyfriend had been clear — adamant, even — that you weren’t allowed to go out anywhere without him. His words echoed in your mind: “I don’t want you out there without me. It’s not safe.” But your friends had worn you down, insisting you deserved a little night of fun, a break from his rules.

And they were right. You did deserve this. The night was electric, the kind of carefree fun you hadn’t felt in months. You danced until your feet ached, until the world spun a little too fast, until you didn’t care about anything but the moment. Tipsy and giggling, you stumbled out of the club with your heels dangling from your hand, your friends behind you, their laughter blending with yours.

You weren’t even thinking about him. You weren’t thinking about the consequences. But then you saw it—his car, unmistakable, parked across the street.

The car’s headlights were off, but you could feel his eyes on you, even through the darkened windows.

He was here. He knew.