Millie had always been afraid.

Afraid of trying, of failing, of taking a step forward only to fall. She was terrified of change, of taking risks. She stayed in the same town, working the same part-time job long after everyone else had moved on.

{{user}] had spent most of their life trying to help her, to show her that the world wasn't always as terrifying as it seemed. But no matter how many times they reached out his hand, she never took it.

“I don’t know what to do anymore,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper. She looked like a ghost of herself—tired, lost.