Chapter 180. It Can't Be

The weight of what I was about to face settled heavily on my shoulders as I sat in the car, staring at the motel’s neon sign flickering in the twilight. 

Where the motel or small hotel was had always given me an uneasy feeling, but now, with the possibility of confronting the truth about my best friend’s death, that feeling was magnified tenfold. 

I took another deep breath, trying to calm the nervous tremble in my hands. This was it—the moment that could change everything. I stepped out of the car, the cool evening air a sharp contrast to the warmth inside my new sedan. 

My footsteps echoed against the pavement as I approached the motel entrance, each step feeling heavier than the last. The receptionist at the front desk barely looked up as I passed, my presence seemingly unnoticed, but I could feel the weight of my decision pressing down on me. 

Nora’s parents were staying in one of the rooms at the far end of the building. I would have to clim