I closed my eyes. The wind picked up again, howling through the trees. I felt it at my back, urging me forward. But my feet stayed planted.
They all needed me.
My family. Mrs. Holt. The Wardens.
I couldn't do it. Not yet.
----- ?⋅?⋅? -----
My parents were cleaningup when I got back. Normally I would’ve helped, cleaned the dishes, dried them, put them back in the cabinets like I always did. But I couldn’t.
I couldn’tdo normal.
They looked up at me when I stepped inside, but I avoided their eyes and bent down to untie my shoes. I was just trying not to fall apart. My eyelids were heavy, my legs barely working, and everything in me hurt. But if I was going to break down, I wanted it to be upstairs. In my room. In the dark. Somewhere I could let it out without anyone seeing.
So I started up the stairs.
“Sweetie, please. Don’t go to bed angry,” my mother said behind me.
I took a deep breath. I didn’t want to snap at her, so I pushed down the heat that rose in my chest.
“I’m just tired,” I said instead. As calm as I could manage.
Behind me, I heard my father stop moving. A pause. Then:
“You were right,” he said.
That made me turn around.
My mother’s eyes softened.
“I know we don’t say it enough,” she said. “But we love you, little dove. And we see you. I know this hasn't been easy. I shouldn’t have put that on you—asking you to stay home, to stay quiet. It’s just… hard, watching everything change and not knowing how to keep you safe.”
“You don’t have to—” I started.
“I do.”
She rested her hand on my shoulder.
“You’re brave. You always have been. And you’re becoming someone I can’t protect.” She looked at me like she could still see the little girl I used to be. “It breaks my heart. But it also makes me proud.”
She smiled, but it wasn’t a joyous smile. It was one of sorrow.
“I just… I don’t want to lose you. Not to them. Not to this world. But you’re doing what feels right to you,” she said. “And I could never ask more than that. All I’ve ever wanted is for you to listen to your heart.”
My father spoke from across the room.
“And to us.”
My mother let out a quiet breath and shushed him gently.
“Whatever you choose to do with your life is right, darling. It’s yours. Don’t let anyone take that from you.”
I couldn’t speak, not without bursting into tears. So I just nodded.
“We just want to protect you. Both of you,” my father said.
My mother reached for my hand and held it. “Things will change soon,” she said. “I know they will. It won’t be like this forever. And you… you will change too.”
