The shower was running hot, almost too hot, steam filling the small bathroom and fogging the mirror. I stood under the spray with my eyes closed, letting the water hit my face and chest, trying to wash away the cold that had nothing to do with temperature. My skin turned pink, but the memory of blood and silence still clung to me like a second skin.
I don't even remember falling back asleep in Elizabeth's arms. One minute I was shaking against her chest, the next the room was bright and the clock on the wall read almost eight. I'd slipped out of bed quietly, not wanting to wake her or Clara, and headed straight for the bathroom. The water helped a little, but not enough.
*Clack.* I turned the shower off and stepped out, the tiles cool under my feet. I rubbed my hair dry with a towel, then wrapped it around my waist and pulled on a plain black t-shirt. The morning light coming through the bedroom window was warm and golden now, nothing like the cold grey from earlier.
