Chapter 46

I tightened my grip on Darren, but he held me even closer. "Darren, I can't breathe." Was he treating me like a doll? He loosened his grip slightly upon hearing my words, but I still couldn't break free. "Mom, my teacher said my grades have improved again!" "Great job, sweetheart! Shall we go to the amusement park this weekend?" "Yay!" The cheerful voices of a mother and daughter echoed from the elevator, the girl's innocent tone full of joy. Their footsteps grew closer. It was probably our neighbors returning home. I kicked Darren hard and said, "Stop messing around. Even if you don't care about your dignity, I still care about mine." He winced, narrowing his eyes as he stood up. As I sighed in relief, he pulled me back into his apartment. The door slammed shut behind us, locking with a click. The room was dim, the only light filtering in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. Moonlight flooded the space, adding an extra layer of loneliness to his desolate home. Darren p