A Necessary Lie

AUDREY'S POV

Maya gave me a reluctant nod. She pushed the thick woven blankets off her small frame. Her tiny bare feet touched the chilly hardwood floor. A sharp ache gripped my chest. She looked incredibly fragile standing there in the dim light. She possessed profound innocence. I hated dragging her into this mess. She never asked for her world to fracture in the middle of the night.

I pushed