TERESA'S P.O.V.
The city of Redfield was just as I remembered—vibrant, chaotic, and perpetually smelling of fresh bread and car exhaust. It was the kind of place that had its own personality—like a quirky old uncle who was always too loud but deeply lovable. My hands tightened around the steering wheel as I navigated through the familiar streets. Every stoplight felt like a judgmental pause, as if the city itself was questioning me. Two years. Two years and some months since I had vanished like a magician pulling a final trick, leaving behind everything I loved. Chief among them? My sweet, Luke, the one person I had always counted on.
The closer I got to Luke's house, the more my heart thudded against my ribs like a prisoner rattling his cell bars. His home, a cozy, modest affair with a wide porch that screamed family gatherings and lemonade summers, came into view. My stomach churned.
