Years later, I allowed myself to imagine expanding that life when I met Marisa, someone who seemed kind, capable, and understanding. For a while, things felt balanced, as though I could welcome someone new without disturbing what Avery and I had built. But one evening, everything shifted. Marisa showed me footage from a security camera that appeared to show someone entering my room and taking money from a safe. She suggested Avery might be responsible. The idea felt impossible, yet it forced me into a painful moment of doubt. When I spoke to Avery, her confusion and honesty revealed something important—her belongings had gone missing too, including the clothing seen in the footage.