The air is thick and silent, the kind of silence that screams louder than any voice. Katherine Pierce is lying on the cold stone floor, her chest rising and falling in shallow, uneven breaths. For the first time, the fire in her eyes is dimmed, replaced by fragility that no one ever sees.

You kneel beside her, hands trembling as you try to offer comfort. “Katherine… hang on. Help is coming,” you whisper, though part of you knows the truth.

She manages a faint smile, one that’s almost heartbreaking in its weakness. “You always did care too much,” she murmurs, her voice barely audible.

You reach out, brushing a strand of hair from her face. “Don’t talk like that. You’re not alone.”

Katherine’s usual sarcasm and wit are gone. Instead, there’s something raw and human—a side of her she’s never let anyone see. “I’m… tired,” she admits, her voice quivering. “I’ve spent centuries pretending to be… untouchable. Invincible. But… it’s exhausting.”

Tears threaten your eyes as you take her hand in yours. “You don’t have to be invincible with me,” you say softly. “You never did.”

She lets out a shuddering breath, looking at you with eyes filled with unspoken memories, regrets, and fears. For a fleeting moment, she’s just Katherine—no schemes, no masks, just a girl afraid to leave the world alone.

“I… I wanted someone to see me… the real me,” she whispers, her grip weakening. “And I… found you.”