❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟭𝟯

While they were outside, under a slightly overcast sky, Theodora and Rosalie were passing a volleyball back and forth, enjoying the fresh air around them. The ball flew between them, bouncing regularly, the dull thud of each hit resonating with every impact.

The hands should stay flexible, fingers slightly apart, ready to absorb the shock of the ball. Theodora adjusted her posture, trying to teach Rosalie the basics of the game while keeping her mind focused. Yet, her thoughts inevitably drifted towards Jasper, that mysterious and cold figure who never truly left her mind.

"Rosalie, can I ask you a question?" Theodora asked, catching her breath, her cheeks slightly flushed from the effort.

Rosalie caught the ball with precision before tossing it back. "Of course. What do you want to know?" she replied with an intrigued smile.

Theodora hesitated for a moment, taking a deep breath. "Well... your life. How do you live like that, staying so detached from everything? Is it always like that?"

Rosalie sent the ball a little higher, letting Theodora catch it before answering. "No, it's not always like that. Every member of our family has their own way of handling this existence." She paused, watching Theodora juggle the ball skillfully. "Edward, for example, finds balance in protecting those he loves. Alice, she always sees the beauty in the future, which helps her hold on to hope. But me... I've always struggled to accept what I've become. So, I protect myself by keeping my distance."

Legs should stay slightly bent, ready to jump towards the ball at any moment. Theodora focused for a moment, absorbing Rosalie's words while continuing her precise movements.

"But... why?" Theodora insisted, sending the ball back to Rosalie, trying to understand more. "Why keep so distant?"

Rosalie sighed, holding the ball in her hands. "Because attachment means pain, Theodora. When you're immortal, everything you love ends up leaving you, one way or another. So, you learn not to get attached, to avoid suffering."

Rosalie's words echoed in Theodora like a reverberation, plunging her into deep reflection. Stay focused, don't get carried away by emotions. Always keep your eye on the ball, anticipate the next move. But despite her efforts to concentrate on the training, she felt the weight of reality pressing on her shoulders. "Is that why Jasper is always so... cold?" she asked timidly, her voice nearly drowned out by the wind.

Rosalie nodded, tossing the ball with measured precision. "Jasper went through a lot of suffering before joining our family. He's done things he's not proud of, and he's seen what the pain of losing someone can do. So, he prefers to stay distant, to protect himself, even if it means ignoring his own feelings. He doesn't want to get attached to anything that could make him... vulnerable."

Stay light on your feet, don't tense up. The key to a good game lies in fluid movement. Theodora caught the ball with a skillful motion, but her thoughts were far from the training. She felt a wave of compassion for Jasper, an understanding that made her want to break through the cold barrier he had imposed on himself.

"I know he's the one who put me in this situation," she murmured, sending the ball back to Rosalie, "but I can't help feeling sorry for him. Like he's carrying an immense weight on his shoulders, and he's trying to bear it all alone. No one should have to go through that, no matter what they've done."

Rosalie paused for a moment, touched by Theodora's sincerity. "It's rare to find someone who sees beyond what we are, Theodora," she said softly. "Jasper isn't used to that kind of understanding."

"And he sees me as a danger," Theodora continued, her voice slightly trembling, her gaze fixed on the ball in her hands. "But I don't want him to think I'm judging him."