Ezekiel's POV
I needed to get out of here.
The suffocating air inside the house pressed against my chest like a weight. Even with windows cracked open and the air conditioning running, nothing felt like enough. I craved the kind of fresh air that would slice through my lungs and remind me there was a world beyond the constant buzz of notifications on my phone.
I snatched my keys from the kitchen counter and headed for the door before Mom could corner me with another round of concerned questions. The silence in our house had become unbearable anyway. It felt like even the furniture knew something had gone terribly wrong.
Outside, the morning sun blazed with an intensity that made me wince. I shielded my eyes and walked straight to my truck, climbing into the driver's seat. My hands found the steering wheel and gripped it tight while that familiar knot in my chest coiled tighter.
