Shadows of the Heart

Chapter 1: The Edge of the Twilight

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author's imagination. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental. The views and opinions expressed in this book are solely those of the characters and do not reflect those of any real-life individuals or organizations.

This book is intended for entertainment purposes only. It is not meant to provide professional advice on any subject matter.

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The sky was painted with the hues of an early evening, a mixture of fiery reds and soft purples that slowly began to surrender to the encroaching darkness. It was 6 PM on the clock. Most of the students had already left the campus. The once-bustling halls were now empty, filled only with the fading echoes of chatter and hurried footsteps. But there was one student still lingering, making her way up the narrow stairs that led to the rooftop.

Isabel, a nursing student, her head down as usual, shuffled quietly toward the rooftop's metal door. She had always been like this—quiet, shy, fading into the background as if she didn't belong in the world she lived in. She preferred silence, not because she wanted to, but because she didn't know how to interact with others. She never had the right words, never felt like she deserved to speak.

For a moment, she paused at the door, her hand trembling slightly as it hovered over the cold metal handle. The weight of her decision hung heavy in the air. It had been a long, unbearable day, not because of any significant events, but because of the endless cycle of thoughts that plagued her mind. Doubts, fears, insecurities—her constant companions.

She took a deep breath, trying to steady herself. Then, without another thought, she pushed the door open and stepped onto the rooftop.

The breeze hit her face gently, as if the wind itself was trying to comfort her. The air was cool, almost refreshing, but she couldn't feel anything other than the numbness that had settled deep within her. Her thoughts had become too heavy to bear, and it seemed like the only escape was this—standing at the edge of the rooftop, high above the empty courtyard below.

Isabel approached the ledge, her feet slow and deliberate, each step making her feel lighter, as if a great burden was finally lifting from her shoulders. She stared out at the horizon, watching as the last remnants of sunlight began to disappear. Soon, night would fall, and with it, she hoped, the pain inside her would be gone too.

The world below seemed so distant. So far away. It would only take one step—just one—and everything would be over.

She stood there, breathing in the crisp evening air, lost in her thoughts. Her mind drifted back to the endless pressures of her life: the demands of nursing school, the expectations of her family, the loneliness that gnawed at her every day. She had never felt like she belonged. Even in her classes, where she should have been learning to care for others, she felt detached—like she was always on the outside, looking in.

She didn't know how to ask for help, didn't even think anyone would care. Her classmates barely noticed her, and even when they did, it was with fleeting glances or polite, obligatory nods. No one truly saw her. No one understood how much she was struggling.

And so, Isabel found herself here, standing on the rooftop, contemplating the final escape.

Just as she was about to step closer to the edge, she heard the faint creak of the rooftop door opening behind her. Startled, she turned around quickly, her heart racing in her chest. She had expected to be alone.