𝓕𝓸𝓵𝓵𝓸𝔀 𝓜𝔂 𝓛𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽 (Tom Riddle X Reader)

"Living Regrets"

The year has gone by in a blink of an eye and the next thing you know, snowflakes began falling from the sky, coating the land in virgin snow. Christmas had always been wonderful to me, people singing Christmas carols and everyone playing like children, reviving their past in the process. This holiday was dull, not much prosperity enveloped me at the moment.

I sat on a wooden bench, collecting myself again after all the chaotic events that occurred, and tucked my hands inside my sweater's pockets. It has never been this cold before, all alone, not a thing to do about it. There were more important things I needed to pay attention to and one was avoiding future distractions. As a consequence of my foolish actions, I'm now cursed to carry the burden of what I had witnessed. To carry the horror and to prepare for what's to come. I do not feel the same any longer not do I feel that recovery is on the way.

Footsteps thumping on the snow approach from behind me as I sat down outside the school. "...(Y/n), I was planning to have another sleepover next week, wanna come over? I'll pick you up," Marin asked me with her usual smile. I haven't heard her voice for a while now. Unfortunately, I had no time for fun. Not now at the very least.

"I'm sorry, I can't come. I have some things to settle and I may not be able to have much time with you two. Is that okay?" She didn't answer, her smile slowly faded yet she tried to keep it steady. "You can still have a sleepover without me! Nothing to worry about." I laughed it off to try and ease the tension. She slipped her hand in her pockets and sighed as white mist escaped her lips.

"Ya know you can tell us if something's bothering you-personally, I think there's something you haven't told us yet." Sarcasm filled her voice as she looked at me with hurt.

"Marin, what do you mean? I haven't been keeping anything from you, I wouldn't dare. How about you? Did I do something to act like this?" I stood up from my seat to have a proper conversation with her.

"Yes! Yes, you did. Not talking to us for a whole goddamn year after reappearing. We're not blind, there's clearly something going on and you, you choose to hide little secrets from us." She raised her voice at me.

"You don't know what you're talking about." I lied shamelessly.

"Don't act stupid, (Y/n). I very much hate it when you do."

"Ah, so we're calling each other stupid now, are we? Just because we're friends doesn't mean I have to share everything with you."

"You think Senan telling us about his sister isn't everything to him? Do you think me freely letting you into my home isn't everything? You're so unfair!"

"You're the one to talk. Nobody should just pry onto someone else's personal matters. Not even close friends b-but it doesn't mean I'm keeping everything from you."

"What truly happened when you disappeared, (Y/n)? If you won't answer then I'll just have to find out myself."

"Why are you still on about this? I thought I made it clear that nothing happened. I disappeared and came back in a mere second, so stop with this nonsense and move on."

"Suddenly disappearing is not something that just happens, it was not a mere second, it lasted for a good amount of months-"

"Just quit it, Marin!" I snapped, causing her to completely go silent. "Enough with trying to solve a nonexistent mystery you're so caught up with! What happened is done, nothing more! If you can't accept that, then-don't even bother talking to me until you feel like finally dropping this matter."

"You're letting our friendship turn to waste just because you refuse to tell me something you know well has a deeper meaning."

"Marin, I am not letting it go to waste, I just beg of you to stop making absurd assumptions."