That's when I freeze, entire body stiffening into one freakishly human statue, because I recognise that smell. I recognise the smell of iris and jasmine, I could do so from ten miles away.
Hell, I bought that perfume for her birthday, and I never got to give it to her, the box still unopened under my bed.
My heart picks up in speed, feeling like it's just about ready to hop out of my chest, when I lift my head and find that it's true, and I'm not just having some horrific flashback episode.
Andie O'Neill is here, and the sight of her alone is enough to send me into cardiac arrest. But that's when I notice the bruising under her eyes, it's warm, meaning it happened recently, and there's dried blood in her nostrils.
Her mouth is also gaped, eyes locked on me like I might disappear if she looks away. Like I'm not real. "Ryan." Her voice is a whisper, the same soft tone I remember.