❝ 𝐋𝐔𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐄𝐒𝐂𝐄𝐍𝐂𝐄 ❞ ʲᵃˢᵖᵉʳ ʰᵃˡᵉ ( EN )

☇ 𝟮𝟭

Days passed, and Théodora lived with a constant knot in her stomach. A dull anxiety, lurking in the shadows, seeped into her thoughts from the moment she woke and never truly left her. She and Jasper hadn't spoken about this threat again. Every time her lips parted to ask a question, Jasper would look away, as if uttering even a single word might summon these vampires. As if speaking of this danger would make it tangible, inevitably drawing it into their lives.

The silence between them grew heavier, an absence of words weighing on their shoulders like an invisible shroud.

Each day was marked by this latent tension, a silent shadow hovering above them, ready to burst. Even in moments of calm, of closeness, this invisible threat lingered, suspended between them. Jasper seemed to want to maintain some semblance of normalcy, casting their relationship into a routine punctuated with tender gestures, yet always tinged with a caution that Théodora had never seen in him before.

She saw it in his eyes when he thought she wasn't looking, in the subtle tensions in his muscles when they were alone. Each movement seemed calculated, measured, as if discussing what haunted them might break a fragile balance.

And yet, this unresolved tension grew within her, slowly consuming her thoughts, making each shared moment feel heavier.

Despite everything, a new intensity had taken root between them. Every glance they exchanged seemed to burn with a stronger, deeper emotion, but tinged with a fragility they couldn't ignore. They explored their feelings with caution, approaching one another with a vulnerability they had never dared face before.

Like flames dancing around a fire, they could neither pull away nor fully let themselves be consumed.

Yet, despite this deepening connection, uncertainty persisted. That lingering shadow was there, omnipresent, reminding them that what they were building could shatter at any moment. Each smile, each shared laugh, was tinged with a bittersweet feeling, a premonition that their fragile world could collapse with the slightest disturbance.

The future was an unknown territory, blurred by the invisible threat looming over them, making each moment precious yet frightfully ephemeral.

One afternoon, as Théodora left school, she spotted a familiar figure near the trees. Jasper. He stood there, hands in his pockets, lost in thought, his expression darker than usual. A shiver ran down Théodora's spine. A lump of anxiety formed in her stomach, her heart racing as she approached him. Why does he look so worried?

The air seemed to thicken around them, as if each step brought her closer to a truth she dreaded.

She didn't want to show her unease, but as she drew nearer, the atmosphere around them seemed to pulse with palpable tension. When he raised his eyes to her, his solemn gaze triggered a wave of stress within her. What's happening?

"What's happening?" she asked, trying to hide the nervousness in her voice, though her clammy hands betrayed her discomfort.

"We need to talk," he replied in a hoarse voice, avoiding her gaze.

His voice, so distant, echoed like a faraway sound, breaking the fragile balance they had been trying to maintain.

His words hit Théodora like a punch to the stomach. Did I do something wrong? Her mind started to whirl under the weight of questions. Is he going to leave me?

The silence between them turned into a chasm, creating an invisible but palpable distance.

She felt a knot in her throat, her thoughts racing, creating a suffocating sensation. I'm scared of what he'll say... Instinctively, she clenched her fists to steady the trembling of her hands, fighting against the panic creeping in. But despite this growing fear, she nodded, ready to face his words. I have to know. Even if it breaks me...