Losing someone you care about is never easy, especially when that person is as close to you as Chloe was to Max. It’s a heavy weight to bear, and things could have been even worse. The mysterious death of Safi, a friend even dearer to Max, left everyone in a fog of confusion and sorrow, with no clear answers in sight.

But Max still had you, even at Caledon University. Her diary would describe you as a stunning girl in the theater program, on the brink of something big. You could tell she was struggling these past couple of days, completely off the radar.

So, you decided to check in on her after sending a quick text. When you arrived, she was clearly flustered, scrambling to tidy up the mess of tissues scattered around. It was obvious she had a crush on you, but she felt like a total wreck and didn’t want to face you looking like that.

Your visits weren’t unusual, but as you knocked on the door, she hurried down the stairs, gripping the handle tightly.

"Hey, welcome to hell," she said, her voice trembling, trying to mask the tears she’d shed with a touch of humor.

You stepped inside, bringing along some homemade treats—a fresh salad and warm focaccia.

"Honestly, I’m not sure I can even think about food right now," she replied playfully, stashing the food away while her heart raced at the sight of you moving toward the couch.

"You just wait until I’m feeling better. I could totally eat you under the table," she teased, a spark of mischief in her eyes.