Mira spent the next few days in a haze, attending classes but feeling disconnected from everyone around her. The laughter of her classmates felt distant, like a world she no longer belonged to. Every time she spotted Tessa in the hall, her heart raced with a mix of fear and confusion.
"Why is this happening?" Mira muttered to herself as she sat alone in the cafeteria, picking at her lunch. She had always found comfort in routine, but now even that felt like a lie.
The atmosphere shifted when Tessa approached her table, her pink curls bouncing with an unsettling energy. "Hey, can we talk?" Tessa asked, her voice almost too cheerful, but there was an edge of desperation beneath it.
Mira shook her head, her stomach tightening. "I don't think that's a good idea."
"Please, just hear me out," Tessa pleaded, her eyes wide and earnest. "I know things are weird, but I need you to understand—I'm not a threat."
"Then why does it feel like I can't breathe?" Mira shot back, the frustration boiling over. "You're not the same person anymore."
Tessa's smile faltered, and for a moment, Mira saw a flicker of hurt in her eyes. "I'm trying to figure things out too. This isn't easy for me either."
Mira's heart softened slightly, but she quickly steeled herself. "I can't be around you right now. I need to focus on what's real, and everything with you feels... off."
Tessa took a step closer, lowering her voice. "Mira, I swear, I'll do anything to prove to you that I'm still me. Just give me a chance."
Mira felt torn. Tessa's sincerity tugged at her, but the memories of Tessa's obsession lingered like a shadow. "You don't get it. I need to feel safe. I can't trust you."
Tessa's expression shifted, frustration flickering across her features. "You're pushing me away! I thought we were supposed to be together."
"That's just it," Mira replied, standing firm. "I don't know what 'together' means anymore."
As Tessa's eyes glistened with unshed tears, Mira's resolve wavered for a moment. But she couldn't forget the unsettling energy that had started to engulf Tessa. "I can't do this," she said softly, turning away.
Mira walked out of the cafeteria, her heart pounding. She felt a mix of guilt and relief as she left Tessa behind. Outside, the cool air hit her face, grounding her. She needed space to think, to figure out what was happening to her friendship.
As she wandered through the empty school halls, Mira's thoughts spiraled. What had happened to the carefree moments they once shared? Tessa's obsession was warping everything, and Mira felt powerless against it.
But beneath the fear, a flicker of empathy remained. Tessa was struggling, and Mira couldn't shake the feeling that deep down, she still cared. Yet, every time she tried to connect, the darkness loomed larger, threatening to swallow them both.
"I have to be strong," Mira whispered to herself, determination igniting within her. "I can't let this consume me."
