ughts, and blurry dreams of shadows whispering her name. She sat at the edge of her bed for a long moment, breathing slowly

ickering on, cleaners sweeping floors, a few students yawning as they dragged their ba

g around as if afraid of being seen, eliana felt her stomach twist. They didn't notice her at first, she stood still, watching, studying their body language like a painting she wished she did

k around the edges. "Morning" eliana managed a calm nod, "morning" her voice surprised e

e's acting weird..." and adrian reply, "Ju

her chest long after sh

eliana sat at her desk, staring blankly at her notes, her best friend, mara, sl

t.", "Is

out what she overheard in the music room

he admitted. "I just

Then let the truth come. Y

ep inside, she felt the truth wasn't coming fast

walked to the music room again, the corridors were noisy, but the room itself was quiet, sunlight glowing o

she shouldn't open it she knew that but the pain, the uncertainty, the confusion, they all pushed her hand forward before she could

ve to get so complicated Eliana closed the notebook, fingers trembling she didn't cry the tears sat behind her eyes but refused to fall

g for so

dn't know if he saw her with the journal or if she looked guilty enough t

... are

owed hard.

d. "What d

s burning. "I heard yo

went pal

whispered. "Plea

for a long momen

entence that made the g

think but I can't

hy? Why can't you ju

was louder

, qui

want you

in what?" s

d. "Please, Eliana. T

that felt lik

efore her heart shat

l bell rang, she was exhausted emotionally more than anything, she stayed behind after school to work on her exhibition painting. The art room felt familiar, safe, brushes, paints, silence, things

tood in t

didn't answer she continued painting selena stepped fo

ng in midair. "Is that supp

sn't what you think, adrian didn't tell

rotect me from what?" Se

looked away, voice cracking "I can't say I promised him", eliana dropp

stepped back, guilt flooding her face. "Eliana... just be careful,

respond, a voice ec

Are you st

ar

d out the back door, disapp

bed staring at the ceilin

a's warning, their secre

so serious that both of

wor

oth think she n

a blank page her pencil moved on its ow

g in a swirl of shadows, a bright light behind them, and in the cen

ran thr

time, she rea

t just abou

bigger wa

one of them

. she was in t

ddenly a message fro

NOW THE FULL STORY ME

reath

sen

el