Song: Anything - Adrianne Lenker

I woke up in Charlotte's bed, the warmth of her small body pressed against mine. Her breath was steady, calm, and for a moment, I allowed myself to forget everything—forget the pain in my ankle, forget Mason, forget the mess in my life. I just focused on the quiet rhythm of her breathing, the soft, familiar scent of her hair. It felt like a fleeting moment of peace in the chaos.

The light coming in through the window was soft, a pale, early morning glow. My phone buzzed on the nightstand, and I groggily reached for it. A text from Rose:

"Is everything okay? You didn't come back last night."

I hesitated before responding, trying to push away the heaviness in my chest. I didn't want to worry anyone, but I knew I had to face the reality of what was happening.

"I'm fine. Just needed some time."

I sent the message before Charlotte stirred, her little hands reaching out for me in her sleep. I ran my fingers through her hair and let out a long breath. I wasn't fine. Not by a long shot. But I couldn't let anyone else see how broken I really was. Not after everything that happened with my stepfather, not after the way my life had unraveled over the past few months.

After a while, Charlotte woke up, blinking slowly as she stretched, her little face confused for a moment. When she saw me, her eyes softened, and she immediately sat up, throwing her arms around me.

"I'm glad you're here," she whispered, her voice muffled against my shoulder.

"Me too, kiddo," I whispered back, brushing a lock of hair from her face. I didn't know what I was doing anymore, but at least for her, I had to be strong.

We stayed like that for a while, not saying anything, just existing in the quiet.

I wasn't in the mood for anyone's pity or concern. I had enough of my own to handle. Instead, I stood up and helped Charlotte get dressed. We made breakfast together, something simple—pancakes and scrambled eggs—while the chaos from last night still lingered in the back of my mind.

Once Charlotte was ready, I gave her one more hug before heading to the door.

"I'll be back later, okay?" I told her, trying to keep my tone light.

She nodded, her big eyes following me with concern. I kissed the top of her head before walking out of the room, leaving her behind in the safety of her little world.

As I walked to my car, the weight of everything from the last few days hit me all at once. The pain in my ankle, the stress of school, and the fact that I had to be strong for Charlotte, even when I felt like I was falling apart.

The drive back to the dorm was quick, but I could feel my chest tightening the closer I got. I wasn't ready to face Rose or Madisson. I wasn't ready to face anyone. But I knew I didn't have a choice.

When I walked through the door, Rose was sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through a notebook. Madisson was on the couch, scrolling through her phone. Both of them stopped what they were doing when they saw me.

"Isabella," Rose said softly, her eyes searching mine. "You okay?"

I nodded, though it felt like a lie. "Yeah. Just... tired."

Madisson raised an eyebrow. "You missed class yesterday. Are you sure you're fine?"

I didn't respond right away. Instead, I moved to the fridge, grabbed a bottle of water, and leaned against the counter. "I just need to get my head together. That's all."

"You don't have to do this alone, you know," Rose said, her voice gentle but firm. "We're here for you."

I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. I didn't want to burden them with this. I didn't want anyone to know just how close I was to falling apart. "I know. I just... I just need some space right now."

Madisson nodded but didn't say anything more. Rose seemed to understand, though she looked worried.

"I'm gonna head out," I muttered, grabbing my bag from the chair. "I have a few things to do."

"Are you sure you don't need anything?" Rose asked, standing up to follow me.

I stopped in the doorway, forcing a smile. "I'm good. Really."

She didn't seem convinced, but she didn't press me further. "Okay. But don't be a stranger, alright?

"I won't," I promised, even though I wasn't sure I could keep it.

I left the dorm and walked to my car, the weight of my thoughts dragging me down. I didn't know what I was doing anymore or where my life was headed. I only knew that I couldn't keep pretending like everything was fine when I was falling apart inside.

I didn't go back to the rink today. Instead, I drove to a quiet spot by the lake. The sound of the water lapping at the shore was calming, and for a moment, I closed my eyes and just breathed. I let myself feel everything—the pain, the guilt, the anger—until it became too much.

I allowed my tears to fall.

I didn't know what I was going to do about my ankle, about skating, about Mason, about Charlotte, about my mom. I didn't know what I was going to do about anything at all.

But for now, I let myself cry. Because sometimes, that was the only thing I could do.

*

The next day, I made myself go back to school, even though every step I took felt like a challenge. My ankle still throbbed, and the weight of everything on my shoulders made it hard to breathe. I kept my head down, avoiding eye contact with everyone, and went straight to class.

When I sat down next to Rose and Madisson, neither of them said anything, but I could feel their eyes on me. The silence between us felt heavier than ever.

I didn't want to talk. I didn't want to explain myself.

But Mason, of course, couldn't let it go.

"You're still here?" he said, his voice low but sharp. "Thought you'd be home, nursing that ankle."

I clenched my jaw, not bothering to look at him. "I'm fine."

"You're not fine," he said, his voice softer now, almost like he was trying to reason with me. "You're hurting yourself."

I finally looked at him, my gaze hard. "I don't need your help."

For a moment, his expression faltered, and I saw something in his eyes—a flash of something soft, maybe concern—but it was gone as quickly as it came. He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine. But you can't keep ignoring it. Eventually, it's gonna catch up with you."

I didn't respond. I couldn't. Instead, I turned my attention to the professor, hoping the conversation would end there.

But I couldn't shake the feeling that Mason was right. And that terrified me.

(Words 1179)

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