terrified her because it reminded her that she was not the only person trapped in the room.
Before the attic, Elena had worked as a nurse’s aide.
Her job had taught her to notice what other people missed: a patient breathing faster than usual, a hand that suddenly felt cold, a voice that became too quiet.
She knew how to write down pain without making the person feel like pain was all they were.
That training became the only structure she had left.
After Darren took her wallet and Marlene
