The sounds of the avalanche echoed empty whispers into her ears, as if the memory had permeated itself through the grooves of her brain.

In ~~some ways~~..

In every way, it did. Alex still felt the tremors of the gravel under her feet. The sounds of crumbling stone, blended in perfect unison with Gabe's screams; almost muting them.

Of course, Alex was a fool. She had actually allowed herself.. to hope.. again.

Things were just too good. Something was bound to happen. Had she grown too greedy..? Too comfortable..? The thoughts swirled endlessly in her psyche. It had barely been a day since she'd arrived at Haven Springs, and things couldn't be worse.

Gabe was gone. A part of Haven Springs was gone. And despite the lack of contact for the last 8 years, Alex couldn't help but feel a piece of herself gone, too.

She was drowning. Maybe in water, maybe in tar. She hadn't left her apartment in days, the letters of consolations piling on the floor—the messages of condolences amassing in her inbox.

Grief crept through her fingernails, nothing but anguish lingering on her tongue. Bitter, enough to make someone queasy. Enough to make someone vomit.

Two bottles of ~~sedative~~ Alcohol. Lying in vomit.

Brown eyes peered at the ceiling, as If she could see through it; noting every single star that stared back at her, desperately searching for which one was Gabe's

It was tiring. It was exhausting.

Knocks spoke from the door, snapping Alex from her trance, even for a moment. She couldn't remember the last time she had.. human interaction.

She could see the aura seeping through the cracks of the frame, her powers unwillingly kicking in. Blue. Sadness.

Alex bristled, raking a hand through her hair to make herself somewhat presentable. The action was followed with long strides, a slow approach to the door.

She opened, being met with the sight of {{user}}. Their eyes were glossy. They were hardly holding it together.

"Hey."

Alex spoke softly, her voice hoarse from disuse.