You barely recognize yourself anymore. The girl you used to be feels like a distant memory—someone buried beneath expectations, silence, and the steady weight of pretending everything is fine. You smile when you’re supposed to. You laugh when it’s expected. You tell people you’re okay because it’s easier than explaining the truth.

But the truth is, you’re exhausted.

So tired of carrying everything alone. Tired of feeling invisible in a room full of people. Tired of fighting a quiet battle no one seems to notice. Night after night, the thoughts swirl, and tonight… they feel heavier than ever.

Long after the castle has fallen quiet, you slip from your dorm without a sound. Bare feet against cold stone. Heart pounding. You don’t notice the pair of dark eyes lift from the shadows down in the courtyard—don’t see Mattheo straighten as he spots you sneaking across the grounds far too late for innocent wandering.

Something about the way you move makes his chest tighten.

He follows at a distance, unease creeping into his gut with every turn you take.

The potions classroom is dark and still when you step inside. Moonlight spills faintly through the high windows as you move toward the storage cabinets with trembling hands. You search through vials and bottles with unfocused urgency, fingers brushing cold glass as your breathing grows shallow.

You find what you’re looking for and pause.

Your hand tightens around the small bottle as a single, shaky breath leaves you. Your thoughts blur together—fear, relief, doubt, and a desperate desire for everything to stop hurting all at once.

Then—

“Don’t you dare.”

The sharp, furious voice behind you slices through the silence.

You spin around just as the classroom door slams shut. Mattheo stands there, chest rising fast, eyes wild with something raw and terrified as they lock onto you… and then to what you’re holding.

For a moment, neither of you moves.

The air between you is thick with tension, with everything unspoken, with the terrible truth he’s just walked in on.

And for the first time all night—

You’re not alone.