It was just past midnight when your phone buzzed.

You groaned, thinking it was another group text or a wrong number.

“Rue?” your screen lit up.

She didn’t text. She called.

You answered immediately.

“Hey,” her voice was quiet, fragile, and rough around the edges—the kind of voice that only came out when no one else was listening.

“Hey,” you said. “Are you… okay?”

A long pause. Then she whispered, “I thought about… doing something stupid.”

Your heart stopped. But you stayed calm. “You’re not alone. Talk to me. I’m here.”

She sniffed, quiet and shaky. “I didn’t want to wake anyone… everyone’s asleep.”

“That’s fine,” you said softly. “You woke me.”

She laughed faintly, a little choked, a little relieved. “Yeah. I… I just—needed someone. Someone who wouldn’t freak out. Who’d just… listen.”