Chapter 69. What the Actual Hell

Athena

It had been three days since I’d moved into my new place, and they had been some of the most peaceful days I’d experienced in years.

I’d worried I wouldn’t be able to sleep that first night, surrounded by unfamiliar sounds and shadows, but my body had surprised me.

Maybe it was the exhaustion from moving, or maybe it was the simple relief of having my own space, but I’d slept deeply and dreamlessly.

The kind of sleep that actually restored you instead of leaving you more tired than when you went to bed.

My morning routine had become something I genuinely looked forward to. Making coffee in my own kitchen, choosing what to wear without worrying about anyone else’s opinion, stepping out onto my small balcony to check the weather. These tiny acts of independence felt like small victories.

The commute to work wasn’t bad either. My apartment was close enough to the office that the cab ride was short and affordable.

I still hadn’t go