Mystic Falls – Midnight

April Young sat on the edge of the old bridge, her legs dangling over the water as she stared at her reflection. The moon cast a silver glow over the rippling surface, distorting her face every time the wind stirred.

She used to believe in simple things. Good and evil. Truth and lies. Friends and enemies. But Mystic Falls had taken all of that and twisted it into something unrecognizable.

She clenched her fists, the cool metal of her bracelet pressing against her skin. Vervain. A reminder that she wasn’t as helpless as they all thought.

A twig snapped behind her. She didn’t flinch.

“You followed me.”Her voice was steady, but there was an edge to it—tired, wary.

You sighed, stepping closer, hands shoved in your jacket pockets. “Of course, I did.”

She turned slightly, her eyes meeting yours in the moonlight. “You don’t have to keep checking on me. I can take care of myself.”

You huffed a quiet laugh. “You shouldn’t have to.”

April looked away, her fingers gripping the edge of the bridge. “You knew. This whole time.”

It wasn’t a question.You swallowed hard. “Yeah.”

You stepped closer, lowering yourself beside her. “April…” You hesitated. “I was trying to protect you.”

She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “That’s what they all say.”

Silence stretched between you.

You could hear her heartbeat—steady, strong, but weighed down by the weight of everything she had been through. She used to be so trusting, so full of light. And now… now there was something fractured in her eyes, something you weren’t sure would ever heal.

“I never wanted to hurt you,” you admitted. “But I did. And I’m sorry.”

April bit her lip, her gaze still fixed on the water below. “I just… I don’t know what’s real anymore.”

You hesitated before reaching for her hand. She didn’t pull away.

“I’m real,” you said softly. “That hasn’t changed.”

She turned to you then, searching your face for something—truth, maybe. A reason to believe you.

And for the first time in a long time, she didn’t feel completely alone.