The letter had arrived that morning, written in Sebastian’s messy scrawl. A simple invitation—Come with me to see Anne?—yet something about it felt heavier than ink on parchment.

Now, you stood outside the small cottage with him, the wind carrying the faint scent of damp earth and wildflowers. Anne’s new home was far from Feldcroft, tucked away in the countryside where she could heal, away from the ghosts of the past.

Sebastian had been quiet the entire journey. Too quiet. His hands stayed stuffed in his coat pockets, his shoulders stiff, his gaze locked ahead as if bracing for impact. You walked beside him, feeling the weight of what this visit meant—not just for him, but for Anne.

The cottage was small, tucked away in the countryside, far from Feldcroft and the memories buried there. When you reached the door, Sebastian hesitated. He’d been so insistent on coming, but now, with only a few inches of wood between him and his sister, doubt clouded his face.

His fingers twitched but didn’t pull away. He squeezed your hand once, like he was grounding himself, then let go. Finally, he knocked.

The door creaked open, revealing Anne. She looked better than the last time you saw her, but there was a guardedness in her eyes, a hesitation in the way she gripped the edge of the door. When her gaze landed on Sebastian, the air between them turned thick, heavy with things unsaid.

"You came," she said, voice unreadable.

Sebastian swallowed. "Of course I did."

Anne's lips pressed into a thin line. Her eyes flickered to you—maybe searching for an answer, maybe just trying to make sense of why you were here at all.

A long silence stretched between them. Then, she stepped aside. "Come in," she said, but there was no warmth in it. No welcome. Just an invitation laced with caution.

Sebastian hesitated, just for a second. Then, with a breath that shook slightly, he stepped inside.