Shift: A Witch's Secret

Apart

"Y/N, are you awake?" My father yells from downstairs.

"Yup!" I shout.

After preparing for school, I retrieve my backpack and head downstairs.

"I'm working late tonight. Don't leave school early."

"Alright," I acknowledge.

-

I sit in history class, feeling a deep sense of sorrow beneath my skin. I almost wish I never shifted. My regular life seems so pointless and boring. I can't help but ponder if there's a way to make the magic last, to stay at Hogwarts.

"Hi, baby!" Ryan exclaims, hugging me from behind. 

"Hi."

"Please, Ryan, take your seat. You're late," Mr. Smith interjects.

Ryan settles into the chair beside me, his expression filled with concern.

"I need to speak with you after class," I quietly mention.

I need to have a serious conversation with Ryan. The secret life I've been leading, shifting between two worlds, has become unsustainable. It's time to end things with Ryan. The guilt of being torn between two realities, my growing feelings for another person at Hogwarts, is eating at me.

"What's going on?" Ryan asks, his voice tinged with worry.

"Actually, I need to talk to you right now," I say, abruptly standing up and pulling him by the hand, guiding him out of the classroom.

"Y/N, you're not permitted to leave class without permission," Mr. Smith protests.

Ignoring the teacher's reprimand, I continue to lead Ryan down the hallway and into an empty classroom.

"Babe, you're scaring me. What's happening?" Ryan inquires.

I let out a sigh, struggling to find the right words. "Ryan, we can't be together anymore."

"What?" Ryan recoils, his face a portrait of shock.

"I-I can't-"

"What the fuck, Y/N! We've been together for almost a year!" he shouts, his face turning red.

"I know, I just need to be by myself right now." I respond, unable to look at him.

His voice trembles, "Is there someone else?"

My heart sinks. "No, Ryan. It's not that..."

"You're lying! I can see it in your eyes. Who is it? Tell me!" he demands, his hands trembling.

"Please, just stop," I plead, tears welling up in my eyes.

"I can't believe you! You said you loved me! You're such a bitch!" He shouts in my face, shaking my arm.

"What's happening in here?" A teacher's voice suddenly intervenes as she enters the room. "Let her go!"

Startled, he lets go of my arm and responds, "Gladly," before storming out of the classroom.

"Are you okay, sweetheart?" the teacher inquires, approaching me.

Wiping away my tears, I nod, and with a shaky voice, reply, "I'm fine," before leaving the room and navigating the school's corridors.

I find myself sitting on the toilet in a stall, holding back tears. Ryan doesn't deserve this, but what else was I supposed to do? It didn't feel right anymore.

Taking several deep breaths, I whisper to myself, "I need to leave," and exit the stall. I walk out of the restroom, through the school's corridors, and make my way towards the exit.