Steam filled the bathroom as hot water cascaded from the showerhead.
Elize stood beneath the spray with her eyes closed as she let the water wash over her.
The dirt, dried blood, and lingering exhaustion from days of searching slowly began to rinse away.
Streams of water trailed down her face, over her collarbones, and across the full curves of her breasts before continuing down the smooth plane of her stomach and along her thighs.
She raised both hands and pushed her wet hair back, the motion lifting her chest slightly as water continued to flow freely over her bare skin.
Her body relaxed under the heat, and the tension in her shoulders gradually eased for the first time in days.
Soft droplets clung to her skin, tracing slow paths along every contour before dripping onto the tiled floor.
For a long moment, she simply stood there, letting the water cleanse more than just her body.
Then, the bathroom door opened quietly.
