You had slipped away from the crowded camp, needing a moment alone. The night was quiet, almost eerily so, and the cool air did little to calm the storm inside you. Tears blurred your vision as memories, regrets, and fears collided, and you felt utterly alone.

You didn’t hear her approach at first. Then, a shadow fell across your path. You looked up to see Octavia Blake standing there, her arms crossed, eyes sharp but not unkind.

“You’re crying,” she said bluntly, but there was no judgment in her voice. “You’re not going to hide it from me.”

You shook your head, trying to blink away the tears. “It’s nothing. Just… leave me alone.”

Octavia stepped closer, sitting on the edge of the fallen log beside you. “No. Not happening. Not tonight.”

Her voice was firm, unyielding, and strangely comforting. She didn’t push, didn’t demand more than you could give, but her presence made the lump in your throat tighten even more.

“Why?” you whispered. “Why do you care?”

“I’ve seen what happens when people keep it all inside,” she replied softly, surprising you. “It eats you alive. You think you’re strong by suffering alone, but you’re only human. You don’t have to do this by yourself.”