Mira sat at her desk, the textbooks sprawled around her like a fortress. She tried to concentrate on her studies, but her mind kept drifting back to Tessa. The eerie energy from their last encounter lingered, a heavy reminder of how much had changed. Amira's absence weighed heavily on her heart, and the more she thought about it, the more distrust blossomed toward Tessa.
Every glance in Tessa's direction felt like a betrayal, a reminder of how deep her obsession ran. Mira felt trapped in a nightmare, unable to shake the feeling that Tessa's affection had twisted into something dark and dangerous. She forced herself to focus on the equations in front of her, but the numbers swirled, mocking her attempts at normalcy.
"Are you okay?" Tessa's voice broke through her thoughts, sweet yet unnerving.
Mira looked up, meeting Tessa's bright eyes. "I'm fine," she said, her tone clipped. She could feel a knot tightening in her stomach, a warning that something wasn't right.
"You seem a little distant," Tessa observed, a hint of hurt flashing across her face. "I just want to help."
"Help? Or control?" Mira shot back, her defenses rising. "You've been acting different since... since everything happened."
Tessa's expression hardened, but there was a flicker of something softer beneath her bravado. "I just want to be with you, Mira. Can't you see that?"
"Be with me? Or possess me?" Mira snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. The memories of Tessa's darker moments loomed large in her mind, making it hard to breathe.
"I would never—" Tessa started, but Mira cut her off.
"Then why does it feel like you're suffocating me?" Mira felt her heart race, a mix of fear and anger swirling inside her.
"I'm not trying to," Tessa replied, her voice softening. "I just... I just don't want to lose you."
Mira's resolve wavered for a moment, the sincerity in Tessa's voice almost breaking through her walls. But the fear of what Tessa could become held her back. "I need space," she said, standing up from her desk. "I can't keep pretending everything is okay."
Tessa's face fell, a flash of desperation crossing her features. "Mira, please..."
But Mira couldn't stay. She slipped out of the room, leaving Tessa standing there, words unspoken between them. As she walked away, the sense of betrayal gnawed at her. This wasn't the friendship she had once cherished; it felt like a nightmare she couldn't escape.
