Whispers of an invisible girl

Chapter 6: Crumbling inside

As fall deepened and the days grew shorter, Celeste felt her grip on life slowly slipping. Since Liam's departure from her world, things that once seemed small or manageable started to feel impossible. Her heart ached with a heavy emptiness that was as constant as her own breath, and, though she tried to mask it, the weight of her loneliness and sadness grew harder to hide.

School became just another place where she felt disconnected. Her friends noticed her distant gaze and the way she often zoned out, but they didn't press her with questions, assuming she was just tired. Celeste was grateful for the space, yet part of her wished they'd ask, wished someone would notice the cracks forming inside her.

One chilly Tuesday morning, Celeste was waiting by her locker, listlessly watching as classmates hurried by, laughing and chatting. Her friend Mila approached, noticing the way Celeste seemed even more withdrawn than usual.

"Celeste? You okay?" Mila asked, her brow furrowing as she tilted her head to look at her friend.

"Oh... yeah," Celeste replied, trying to muster a smile. "I'm fine, just... you know, tired."

"Are you sure? You've been 'just tired' for weeks now," Mila said, her voice a mix of concern and curiosity.

Celeste's smile faltered. She wanted to tell Mila everything, to explain the storm raging inside her. But how could she put it into words? How could she tell her friend that she felt like she was falling apart piece by piece?

"I just haven't been sleeping well," she said finally, forcing a small laugh to lighten the mood. "Nothing to worry about."

Mila nodded, though her eyes held a hint of doubt. "Well, if you ever want to talk... you know I'm here, right?"

Celeste nodded, her heart warming briefly at Mila's words, even as she felt the heavy weight in her chest remain.

"Thanks, Mila. I appreciate it," she said softly.

That evening, after trudging through her classes, Celeste returned home and collapsed onto her bed. She stared up at the ceiling, her mind a mess of thoughts and emotions that she couldn't seem to organize. She felt herself spiraling, falling deeper into a place where she couldn't recognize herself. Every day, it felt as though pieces of her were slipping away, lost to a sadness that had no end.

Her phone buzzed on her nightstand, breaking her thoughts. She glanced at the screen to see a text from her mother.

Mom: "Dinner is ready when you are. Come down when you feel like it!"

She sighed, not feeling hungry but knowing she couldn't avoid her family for too long. With a heavy heart, she dragged herself downstairs, finding her parents already seated at the table, her younger brother Noah munching on his food eagerly.

"There you are," her mom greeted with a smile. "I thought we'd lost you to your room forever."

"Sorry, just had a lot on my mind," Celeste mumbled, taking her seat and playing with her food rather than eating it.

"School getting tough?" her dad asked, his voice casual but filled with concern. "Or is it something else?"

Celeste shrugged, trying to seem indifferent. "I guess... school, friends, just... stuff."

Her mom's face softened. "You know, Celeste, you can always talk to us. If there's anything bothering you..."

She hesitated, feeling the familiar urge to pull away, to keep everything locked up inside. But her father's gentle gaze and her mother's kind smile made her feel a flicker of warmth, a brief respite from the cold that had taken over her heart.