Elira
I was lying on my bed, Maddie beside me.
She sat quietly, stroking my hair while I sobbed into the pillows.
We hadn’t spoken in a while—and I was glad for the silence.
I was exhausted. My body felt hollow, my eyes burned. But for the first time in… I don’t even know how long… I felt lighter. Like something had loosened inside me. Like a knot had finally given way.
I don’t know how much time passed. But it was getting dark outside.
The sun was sinking below the horizon, streaking the sky with violet and gold.
I saw it.
Really saw it.
And for the first time in what felt like forever, I noticed.
It was beautiful.
It was a strange feeling.
I heard a gentle knock at the door.
I turned toward it, but Maddie reached out and stilled me.
“I’ll get it.”
She climbed off the bed and stepped into the hall. I heard the low murmur of voices—familiar, comforting.
A moment later, Maddie reappeared.
“Okay, I’ll tell her,” she said over her shoulder, then turned to me. “Elle?”
I looked up at her. “Yeah?”
“Do you feel up for a walk?”
I pulled myself upright. My tears were long since cried out. My body ached, but… the idea didn’t feel impossible.
“I guess so,” I said, quietly.
“Maybe wear a coat,” she added, smiling gently.
I looked at her, then nodded.
She led me down the hall and out the doors. Leo met us at the entrance. He held out an arm for me.
The night air was cooler now, crisper. I shivered into my coat, but I took the offered arm without protest. “What is this?” I asked.
“Just something we thought might be nice,” he said, then glanced at me.
“Do you trust me?”
I looked up at him—his face so open, so painfully honest it wasn’t even a real question.
“I do,” I said simply.
