Jioni couldn’t keep her eyes off the door. Each step came with an ache. She yanked it, but it wouldn’t open. She pulled again until she realized it was locked. Her hands worked quickly, and Jioni was out the door.
She stumbled out into the street, finally able to breathe the fresh night air. It was difficult to move forward in her walk. And stress overwhelmed her ability to function, but she did not cry.
Jioni fell carefully onto the street. Her body was weightless. With heavy breaths, she tried to calm herself down but found it impossible.