Emily’s pov
I woke up again with a knotted, sick stomach, and my mind finally got rid of the remaining traces of sleep when I finished puking into the toilet. I had spent yet another night tormented by nightmares that looked way too much like memories, and during the night I’d woken up at least four times with my heart beating so fast I was sure it would break my ribcage and just fly out.
Clayton’s ghostly face was still floating in front of my eyes when I stepped into the shower, taking deep breaths to calm down my racing heart.
I’m no longer there, I repeated myself. He can’t hurt me here. I’m safe and strong, and I have people who care about me here.
I let the air slowly flow in and out of my lungs for five minutes more, and when I opened my eyes, Clayton was gone.
Good.
I
