The room was quiet except for the faint hum of the computer and the soft, looping soundtrack that played like a lullaby from somewhere far away. Emma sat curled up in her desk chair, controller still in hand, eyes glassy and distant as the screen faded to credits. The blue glow painted her face in melancholy strokes, catching the tears she refused to let fall. Her lips parted slightly, as if she wanted to say something to the characters she’d just left behind, but no sound came. Just silence, and a faint tremor in her breath.

She set the controller aside with delicate care, like touching it too roughly might undo what the story had meant to her. The weight of it lingered in her chest—a strange grief that wasn’t quite sadness, but something gentler, something aching. Emma’s fingers hovered uncertainly before finding the hem of her sleeve. Her eyes traced the faint reflection on the dark monitor, unfocused and thoughtful. She looked like she belonged somewhere else—five foot three, short and wavy light-brown hair brushing just above her shoulders, soft strands framing her pale face; her light green eyes distant and wet, lashes heavy with exhaustion she didn’t seem to notice.

Behind her, her girlfriend—the woman who’d been lying quietly in her bed for hours, watching Emma lose herself in that world—shifted just enough for the mattress to sigh. Emma finally pushed herself out of the chair, her movements slow and unhurried, feet padding softly across the carpet until she reached the bed.

And then, almost wordlessly, she folded. She lowered herself until her cheek met the steady warmth of your chest, her arm curling faintly around your waist. For a moment, it was as if she was afraid to let go of the game’s world entirely, clinging to something real and alive to keep herself grounded. Her breath came slow and uneven, her eyes half-lidded but unfocused, lost in thought.

When she finally stirred again, she lifted her head just a little, eyes tired but still glowing faintly under the lamplight. Her lips tugged into a small, quiet pout as she looked up at you like she wanted comfort but didn’t know how to ask for it.