In progress

Chapter 7

Emma walked briskly down the familiar streets of Storybrooke, her mind swirling with a tumult of thoughts and emotions. The events of her creative writing lesson played over and over in her mind like a broken record, each moment dissected and analyzed from every angle.

As she reached the diner, the familiar sight of Belle and Ruby waiting for her brought a small sense of comfort. She forced a smile as she greeted them, but her mind was still miles away.

They settled into their usual booth, the chatter of other diners providing a dull backdrop to their conversation. Belle and Ruby exchanged stories from their day, but Emma found herself only half-listening, her thoughts consumed by the encounter with Miss Mills.

Ruby's voice broke through Emma's reverie, her annoyance evident as she repeated her friend's name for what seemed like the hundredth time. Emma blinked, snapping back to reality, but the concern etched on her friends' faces only served to heighten her own anxiety.

"I'm sorry, I just... I've got a lot on my mind," Emma mumbled, her words sounding hollow even to her own ears.

Ruby's persistence grated on Emma's nerves, her attempts to pry further only serving to fuel Emma's frustration. With a sharp retort, Emma pushed back from the table and made for the door, the worried gazes of her friends following her out into the cool evening air.

Alone once more, Emma felt a wave of guilt wash over her. She knew her outburst had hurt her friends, but she couldn't bring herself to explain the turmoil that churned within her. Not yet, at least.

With a heavy heart, Emma trudged home, the weight of her secrets pressing down on her with each step. She knew she couldn't keep her friends in the dark forever, but for now, the truth remained locked away, hidden behind a facade of indifference.

The days passed in a haze for Emma, each one blending into the next like a never-ending cycle of monotony. She retreated further into herself, seeking solace in the confines of her room and the distractions of her schoolwork.

At Granny's Diner, her absence was keenly felt, her usual seat at their booth empty as Belle and Ruby exchanged concerned glances. They tried to reach out to her, to bridge the growing divide between them, but Emma remained steadfast in her isolation.

Even at home, Emma was a ghost of her former self, her presence fleeting and her interactions minimal. Mary Margaret and David watched with growing concern as their daughter withdrew into herself, her once-bright spirit dimmed by an invisible weight she refused to share.

Emma knew the worry she caused her parents and friends, but she couldn't bring herself to let them in. The truth weighed heavily on her, a burden too heavy to bear alone, but she couldn't risk the consequences of revealing it.

Locked in her room, surrounded by the suffocating silence of her own thoughts, Emma struggled to find a way out of the darkness that threatened to consume her. She knew she couldn't continue like this forever, but the fear of what lay beyond kept her rooted in place, trapped in a prison of her own making.

As Emma's isolation deepened, her lack of participation in class became increasingly conspicuous. Her teachers, concerned by her sudden decline in participation and engagement, began to confer with each other, seeking answers to the enigma that was Emma Swan.

In the faculty lounge, whispers of concern circulated among the teachers, their brows furrowed with worry as they discussed Emma's troubling behavior. It was clear that something was amiss, and they turned to her homeroom teacher, Miss Mills, hoping she could shed some light on the situation.

Miss Mills had indeed noticed the change in Emma, the subtle shift in demeanor that hinted at a deeper struggle beneath the surface. She couldn't help but feel a pang of guilt, knowing that their last interaction may have played a role in Emma's withdrawal.