The 28th Stop [ Yandere x Reader ]

31 - Brief Respite

The moment you woke up, you felt a teardrop trickle down the side of your face.

It slid into your hair, evaded the shell of your ear and dripped onto a pillow – the softest pillow you had ever rested your head upon. You quickly became aware of the sensation of old, dried tears that splodged your cheeks. You inhaled and the air stuttered as it entered your lungs.

Yet, the tears were not borne of melancholy. There was a certain lightness in your chest. The muscles beside your mouth ached in a strangely familiar way that brought you to a single conclusion...

...You had laughed in your sleep.

Laughed so hard that it made you cry.

Sniffling, you wiped the flakes from the ends of your eyelids. The covers slid down your dress as you sat upright. A haze lingered like a fog in your mind, so you spent a few moments basking in the stillness of the room.

The rain had stopped. Translucent beads dotted the window to your left. You lifted its hatch and hauled the frame upwards, instantly greeted by a blast of cold wind that blew through your hair, ruffled the bedsheets, and sent goosebumps across your skin.

Cloudless, the night sky twinkled with stars and an everlasting crescent moon. You were on the second floor, which offered a broad view of the landscape. There was a street immediately below, abutted with thick trees, rubbish bins, and a black cat lounging in the shade. Mist curled above the cobblestone. Streetlights flickered on the other side of the road, spread out wide apart in a line, and bordered a small park that seemed to be only a few minutes' walk away.

In the distance to your left, through the sloping roads and gaps between buildings, were the lively golden-red lanterns of the marketplace, akin to a bokeh effect. If you concentrated, you could barely hear the thrumming chatter and bartering across its various stalls. To your right, even further away, you could see the top of a Ferris wheel, where the dark sky glowed from the lights of the amusement park.

Inhaling the fresh wintry air, it was like you were seeing the town for the first time.

Despite the mayor's tour, despite exploring its streets for an entire week, you never quite got the moment to appreciate its beauty.

You slowly extricated yourself from the heavy quilt. Bare feet touching the cool wooden planks, you turned towards the foot of the bed. The vanity's mirror reflected your ragged orange dress, bruised shoulders, and the small cuts down your neck and arms. Bloodshot eyes, puffy bottom lids, and tear-stained cheeks all but completed your battered look.