When June stepped outside, the late afternoon sun beat down on her, but she felt cold inside. She spotted her sister sitting on a bench, headphones in, staring blankly at her phone. June's heart ached at the sight. Jasmin used to be the one full of life, vibrant and unstoppable. Now she looked like a shell of her former self.
"Hey, Jas," June called, trying to keep her tone light. She approached cautiously, as if Jasmin might shatter into pieces at the slightest touch.
Jasmin looked up, pulling one earbud out. "Oh, hey," she said, her voice flat.
"Mind if I sit?" June asked, not waiting for a response before plopping down beside her. "You've been MIA all week. I thought I'd check in."
Jasmin shrugged, her eyes flickering back to her phone. "I'm fine."
"Are you really?" June pressed, her heart racing. "You don't look fine."
"Thanks for the observation, Sherlock," Jasmin replied, a hint of irritation in her voice. But beneath that edge, June caught a glimpse of vulnerability, a flicker of the sister she knew.
"Jas, I'm worried about you," June said, lowering her voice. "You don't have to go through this alone."
For a moment, Jasmin just stared ahead, her jaw tightening. "It's not like talking about it is going to change anything," she said finally, her tone softening just a fraction.
"Maybe not," June replied gently. "But it might help. You can scream at me, cry—whatever you need. Just... don't shut me out."
Jasmin turned to look at her, really look at her. The hurt in her eyes was palpable, and it struck June to her core. "I just feel so lost," Jasmin confessed, her voice barely above a whisper. "I thought I knew who I was, and now... it's like I don't even recognize myself."
