As the night deepened, I lay in bed next to Leora, feeling the warmth of her body against mine. Her rhythmic breathing was a soothing lullaby, and the weight of the day's decisions began to lift, replaced by the comfort of our closeness.
I stared up at the ceiling, my mind a whirl of thoughts about the day's events and the heavy choice we'd made regarding Ava. Sleep was elusive, and I found myself replaying the trial in my head, wondering if we had truly done the right thing.
Just as I felt myself drifting off, a prickle of unease ran down my spine. It was subtle at first, a whisper of a sensation, but it grew more insistent, stirring me from the edge of sleep. My eyes snapped open, and in the dim light of our chamber, I saw a shadowy figure standing over our bed.
My heart pounded as I recognized the figure: Ava, her eyes wild with desperation, holding a glinting knife in her hand. The moonlight streaming through the window caught the blade, casting a cold, silvery light.
