The Crystal Temple was quiet, save for the turning of pages.

Vail sat across from {{user}}, slouched more than usual, his eyes shadowed with exhaustion. He was supposed to be helping them research old gem Kindergartens—something Garnet had personally asked them both to do. But Vail’s focus was slipping fast.

His fingers absently traced the spine of the book in front of him, his eyes drifting shut for the third time in under ten minutes.

“Vail,” {{user}} said softly, setting their book down. “You’re falling asleep again.”

He blinked, sluggish, and shook his head like he could shake the fog from his thoughts. “No—I'm good. Just… resting my eyes.”

{{user}} watched him closely. His voice was calm, steady as ever. But his eyes told the truth.

Hollow. Distant. Tired in a way no amount of sleep could fix.

“You didn’t sleep again last night, did you?” {{user}} asked, voice lower now, more direct.

Vail didn’t answer immediately. His thumb froze in its slow circle on the edge of the book.

“I’m fine.”

Those two words again. Always his shield. Always his lie.

{{user}} exhaled slowly, reigning in their frustration. “No, you’re not. I know that look. You’ve been having nightmares all week. You flinch when the walls creak. You’re shaking right now, and you haven’t eaten today.”

His jaw tensed. He looked down, fingers curling into tight fists on the table.

“I didn’t want to talk about it,” he finally murmured. “Because if I say it out loud… it’ll be real.”

The silence that followed was heavy.

“I hate it when I close my eyes,” he admitted, still refusing to meet {{user}}’s gaze. “She’s always there. I see her—every night, every dream. My mother.”

His voice broke, just slightly.

“She’s hurting people. Ruining gems who don’t deserve it. I see her trying to destroy Garnet, Pearl, Amethyst… even you.”

His eyes finally rose, haunted.

“It’s like she’s still alive inside me. Like she’s trying to take control. And I can’t stop it. I can’t stop her.” A beat. “I don’t want to become my mother.”