Sanctuary

Leila POV:

As the car sped along the winding road, I held Ash close, feeling the world pass in a blur outside the window. I didn't know who this woman was or why she had agreed to help a complete stranger in the middle of the night, but I was grateful beyond words. Ash lay quiet against me, his tiny breaths warm against my chest, his trust in me like a steady anchor.

The woman in the front seat glanced back at me, her expression kind, though tinged with worry. "We'll be in town soon. I don't know what you've been through, but you're safe now," she said softly, offering me a faint smile. "I'm Lucy, by the way. Do you have family or a place to go?"