My parents demanded the password to my penthouse apartment right in fr…

roar of the crowd.

The contrast was startling. The ballroom was stifling, thick with perfume, sweat, and panic. The terrace was dark, crisp, and washed clean by the evening rain. The cold Seattle air hit my burning cheek.

It felt like ice.

I closed my eyes for a second, letting the chill numb the sting. I walked to the edge of the stone balcony. Below continue reading …