My voice cracked, the sound scraping out of a throat that felt forgotten, unused. It echoed too loud in the quiet room, fragile and wrong.
He stopped mid-step. Turned slowly. A small smile touched his lips—not amused, not mocking. Understanding. Like he already knew how broken that name was for me. He tilted his head slightly.
"No," he said gently. "I'm Aaron."
Aaron.
The name hung between us, unfamiliar and steady. Not a ghost. Not a memory.
"Nice to meet you," he added, his voice low and smooth, velvet dragged lightly over steel.
"I've heard so much about you."
My body reacted before my mind could catch up. I pulled my hand back fast, clutching the blanket to my chest. Fear buzzed under my skin, sharp and alive.
"W-what have you heard?" I whispered. My voice came out small, shaky. "Who are you?"
He didn't reach for me again. Didn't flinch
