For Me,There Is Only You |18+|

9. Too Overwhelming

People often say to listen to your conscious mind when facing difficult realities, to sort through your thoughts logically.

But my mind was a tangled mess, clouded with dread and disbelief. Every time I tried to think clearly, it felt like trying to grab smoke—nothing solid to hold onto.

Everything around me felt off-kilter, like I'd stepped into some parallel world where nothing was what it seemed.

Even Ashley, my closest friend, felt familiar yet suddenly so distant. The girl I'd known for five years, who had been my rock, was not even human. The thought was too big, too heavy to carry.

"You've been awfully quiet since yesterday. What's on your mind?" Ashley's voice cut through the fog of my thoughts, pulling me back to the present.

I blinked, realizing she had noticed my far-off look. I knew I couldn't keep avoiding this reality, couldn't keep burying my head in the sand. But I wasn't ready—not yet.

I needed more time to sort through the chaos in my heart and head.

"I want to go back," I murmured, my voice barely a whisper.

Ashley paused, her hands frozen mid-air with the dresses she'd been showing me for her wedding. She turned to face me, a blank expression masking whatever she might be feeling.

Her mother, seated nearby, also looked up from her tea, surprised by my sudden statement.

"Why?" Ashley asked, her voice carrying a mix of confusion and concern. She didn't understand—I knew she wouldn't. How could she?

My mind raced, thoughts colliding and crashing together.

I wanted to scream that a human had no place among wolves, that I was suffocating in this world that wasn't mine. But I bit back the words.

"I don't feel good here," I said instead, my voice small and tired. It was the only explanation I could manage without unraveling completely.

Ashley's eyes softened, but I could see the worry etched in her features.

"But didn't the doctor say your injuries were almost healed? Your bandages are even removed now," Ashley pointed out.

She abruptly stood up and walked over to the bed, leaning in close. I felt the mattress dip slightly as she placed her hand on my forehead, her touch cool against my skin. "Do you have a fever?" she asked softly.

I gazed into her grey eyes, a mixture of gratitude and confusion swirling within me. I was grateful for her care, but at the same time, a nagging thought gnawed at the back of my mind—Ashley was something more than just human.

Something I didn't fully understand but could no longer ignore.

"No, it's not about the physical injuries," I replied, my voice almost a whisper, weighed down by the emotional turmoil inside me. "This place is just... unfamiliar. All I want is to go back home."

The words felt like a confession, a desperate plea to escape the strange and unsettling environment that clung to me like a second skin.

Leaving felt like the only option—a way to claw back a sense of normalcy, to breathe freely again.

Ashley, however, seemed determined to help. "Is it because I'm not giving you enough time? Do you feel alone here? I'm so sorry, Neev—" she began, her voice thick with guilt, but I couldn't let her shoulder that blame.

"Ashley," I interrupted gently, trying to convey how deeply I understood her situation. "Tomorrow is your wedding. I know you're busy, but please try to understand my situation."