You were sitting in the quiet warmth of the Winters’ living room, a mug of tea in your hands. The soft hum of the evening filled the space — the ticking clock, the faint wind outside, and the gentle crackle from the fireplace. You had come to visit Rose, hoping for a normal evening, but you could tell something was weighing on her mind

She sat across from you, her knees pulled to her chest, her golden hair falling in gentle waves around her face. Her eyes — those curious, haunted eyes — kept flicking to you and then away again

You finally decided to break the silence "Rose? Is something wrong?"

She hesitated, hugging her knees tighter "I... I don’t usually talk about this. Not even to people I trust."

You leaned forward, sensing she needed someone to listen "You can tell me anything, Rose. I promise."

She swallowed, her fingers trembling slightly "Do you remember when I told you my family had... a complicated history? Well, that’s because of me, too. Ever since I was a baby, I wasn’t like other kids"

She paused, looking down at her hands. Slowly, she stretched them out toward you. At first, you saw nothing unusual — until a faint glow began to dance around her fingertips, like small strands of golden light weaving through the air

Your breath caught

"Sometimes... I can heal people," she explained, her voice barely above a whisper "Other times, I can feel something inside me trying to change, like I could become something else entirely. My dad tried to protect me from people who wanted to use me, but now that he is gone... I feel like I’m just trying to be normal when I never really can be."

She looked at you, her eyes shimmering with uncertainty and fear "I’m scared, you know? Scared that people will see me as a monster. Or that I’ll hurt someone I love without meaning to."