#Chapter 21: To Win

I woke with a yawn, squinting my eyes as the sun’s rays peeked through the thin curtains. I glanced over at the alarm clock and saw that it was only eight in the morning. It felt like I’d slept longer. I threw my legs over the side of the bed and pressed my feet onto the floor. My ankle was still tender, but it wasn’t as bad as it had been yesterday. I was able to walk to my suitcase and gather some clothes for the day. There was some ruffling on the other side of the room and I turned, stunned to see Timothy adjusting himself on the small couch. I blinked wildly, recalling last night’s turn of events. It all seemed so distant, this dark memory lingering in the back of my mind. Timothy watching over me as I fell asleep made me feel a little less vulnerable. “You’re up.” I turned again, this time meeting Timothy’s warm gaze as he sat up and stretched his long body over the stiff couch. I felt bad that he’d had to curl himself up just to fit on it, but he didn’t seem too bothe