ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ʀᴜɴɴɪɴɢ: ἈΠΟΚΆΛΥΨΙΣ

02

The campus security guard buzzed me through the gate with a small smile, his eyes briefly meeting mine as I passed.

As I made my way toward the quad, I spotted Augustus standing by the water fountain, his grin instantly lighting up the space around him.

"Tyreka, my girl!" he called out, his arms wrapping around my shoulders in a familiar, comforting embrace.

Augustus, Aug for short, was a friend. My only friend, actually. Our connection straddled the line between something deeper and purely platonic, but I knew, deep down, that he'd never see me in that way. We'd never work out like that

I shrugged off his embrace, not really in a cheerful mood this morning. "What do you want, August?"

His playful grin faded instantly, replaced by a concerned frown. "It happened again?" he whispered, his voice low as he glanced around to make sure no one else was near us.

I had confided in August before—he was the one person I'd allowed to get close, the only one who didn't judge me for the chaos inside my head.

I nodded slowly, rubbing my tired eyes in a futile attempt to shake off the heaviness. "Mum said I should see Dr. Morris again. I'm hoping this time... maybe it'll work."

My voice trailed off, tinged with uncertainty, because I wasn't sure if I believed that myself.

August studied me for a moment, his brow furrowing as if he could feel my unease. Then, with a small but reassuring smile, he leaned in and kissed my cheek gently, the gesture both comforting and familiar.

"You're not alone in this, Ty. It'll be okay."

His words, though simple, held a warmth that momentarily eased the tight knot in my chest. I wanted to believe him, but part of me still felt lost in the fog of it all.

"Have you eaten?" he asked, his eyes carefully studying my face, looking for the truth behind my words.

I nodded, but I couldn't stop myself from tugging at my fingertips—an old habit, and a sure sign I was lying. August sighed, his gaze softening as he reached into his bag and pulled out a small sandwich. He held it out to me.

"You know I'm not letting you starve," he said firmly.

Reluctantly, I took the sandwich, fully aware that he wouldn't leave me alone until I ate. I unwrapped it slowly and took a small bite.

August watched me, a satisfied glint in his eyes, and despite my resistance, I couldn't help but smile back. I ate three more bites before my appetite, as usual, began to fade.

"Thanks, August," I mumbled, my voice soft but sincere, grateful for his constant care.

He shrugged nonchalantly, trying to act like it was no big deal. "That's what friends are for, right?"

I nodded, then glanced at the clock tower looming over the campus. "I should get to class," I said, hoisting my bag onto my shoulder.

August's face fell slightly, but he quickly masked it with a grin. "Alright. Catch you later, then?"

"Yeah, see you," I replied, turning to head toward my first lecture.

As I walked through the bustling campus alone, my mind was a whirlwind of thoughts. Students chatted animatedly around me, their voices blending into a comforting hum that contrasted sharply with the silent, oppressive dread of my nightmares.

I tried to focus on the normalcy of it all—the smell of fresh-cut grass, the distant sound of laughter, the rustling of pages as people studied on the lawn. But my thoughts kept drifting back to Grandma's haunting words and the relentless pressure weighing on my shoulders.