Page 25 of Before Dawn

“Crowing?Rude.” Azzy grinned, but her expression softened. “Sorry, though. I know you were up studying late last night. Good luck with your exam today.”

“Thanks,” I said, cracking open the bottle. “And remember, I’m leaving this weekend.”

“Ugh. I wish you could stay forever.” She groaned, glancing at her phone. “I’ve got to go, but we’ll definitely talk later. I love you.”

“Love you too!” I called after her as she hurried out the door.

The second she was gone, the weight in my chest returned. A tight, suffocating knot that made every breath feel just a little too shallow.

I knew what I had to do this weekend. The decision had been made. But that didn’t make it any easier. The thought of it pulled me down likea rock sinking to the bottom of the ocean. No matter how much I braced myself, the anxiety still clawed at my ribs, my brain already spiraling through every possible outcome.

Breaking up with someone after years together—years that had shaped so much of who I was—wasn’t just difficult; it felt like an unraveling. Like stepping off a ledge and not knowing if there would be anything to catch me.

I pressed my palms against the counter, my fingers curling against the cool surface as I inhaled deeply. The dread wasn’t about losing him—I’d checked out long ago. It was the uncertainty that followed. What did this mean for my future? What if I never found someone who truly loved me? What if I ended up alone? My thoughts tangled together, looping into a cycle of worst-case scenarios. My chest grew tight, my pulse hammering, my stomach twisting into knots that refused to unravel.

Stop. Breathe. Focus.

I squeezed my eyes shut and exhaled slowly, forcing myself to pull away from the spiral. There were things I had control over, and right now, that was my exam. I had studied all night for it, and no amount of anxiety was going to make me fail.

Pushing past the nerves, I grabbed my bag and hurried out the door, my mind still buzzing as I made my way to NYU. The city blurred around me, my brain too consumed with overanalyzing everything to process my surroundings.

By the time I sat down in the exam room, my heart was already racing. My fingers curled around my pen, too tight, my breath short and uneven. The questions stared back at me, the letters almost blurring together as my mind blanked for a terrifying second.

This is it. What if you fail? What if you read the questions wrong? What if—

I clenched my jaw, forcing myself to take another breath. I had studied for this. I knew the material. One question at a time. I grounded myself, focusing on the paper in front of me, and slowly, the answers started to come.

The moment I handed in my paper, a wave of relief washed over me, so overwhelming that I nearly stumbled on my way out of the room. It was done. No more late-night cramming, no more lectures, no more deadlines hanging over my head. I could finally breathe—or at least, I thought I could.

Then my phone buzzed.

The second I saw Gianna Mendez’s name, my stomach twisted into something ugly.

Gianna Mendez:I know things between you and Joshua are messy, but he needs a second chance. He misses you.

My grip tightened around my phone. My jaw clenched so hard my teeth ached. She had some fucking nerve.

I stared at the message, my pulse pounding in my ears. The way my chest constricted made me feel like I couldn’t take in a full breath. My brain immediately latched onto every possibility—Was he trying to manipulate me again? Did she seriously think I’d fall for this? How many other people had he lied to? How many times had he spun some sob story about me just to play the victim?

No. No more.

My fingers flew across the screen.

Me:Ride his dick for as long as you want. Never text me again.

I blocked her number before she even had a chance to respond.

Joshua was a lying, cheating, manipulative, toxic whore, and Gianna was nothing more than a backstabbing bitch. I didn’t have the time or energy to entertain either of them anymore.

Closing the chat, I exhaled sharply and hailed a taxi to Common at the Reserve, where I was meeting the realtor. My chest tightened with a mix of dread and cold determination—the sooner I moved on, the better.

By the time I arrived at the apartment complex, Emilia was already waiting in the lobby, scrolling through her phone. As I stepped inside, thesharp click of her heels echoed against the tile. She glanced up, flashing a bright smile. Emilia was one of my sister’s friends—more out of convenience than true connection—but I couldn’t deny my gratitude for how quickly she’d found this place.

“Abigail! Hey, how are you?” She greeted me.

I forced a smile. “I’m okay.”

“Ready to see your potential new home?” she asked, her enthusiasm unwavering.

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