Fiona looked at Adam, her voice steady but
gentle. "Go to her. She needs you more than
Ido right now.
He wanted to protest, but something in her
eyes-tired, tender, hollow--stopped him. He
simply nodded, pulling her into a quick,
quiet hug before walking away
Fiona turned and made her way back to her
room, the hallway empty and quiet, save for
the soft hum of distant ocean waves. She
stepped inside, locking the door behind her.
The silence wrapped around her like a
blanket-heavy, but oddly comforting
She walked to the bathroom, turning the
water on as hot as she could bear. Steam
quickly filled the space, fogging up the
mirrors and blurring the world around her.
Fiona stepped into the shower, letting the
water wash over her, soaking her hair, her
skin, her soul. The moment the warmth
touched her face, the tears began again. But
this time, they blended with the stream of
water, invisible. No sobs, no sound. Just a
quiet release
She leaned against the cold tile wall, her
thoughts spiraling. Why am I here? What am
I doing? Why did it all hurt so much?
And then, the clarity came. Through the
silence, through the water, through the
tears.
I'm exhausted from being everything to
everyone. It's time I start being something to
myself.
She stayed under the water until her skin
was warm and wrinkled, her heart a little
lighter. She dried off slowly, slipped into an
oversized shirt, and pulled her damp hair
oversized shirt, and pulled her damp hair
into a loose braid. Her mind was still heavy
but at least it wasn't lost,
Sliding under the cool sheets of the bed,
she stared at the ceiling for a long moment.
Then she turned on her side and whispered
to the dark,
"I'Il figure it out tomorrow."
And finally, she let herself drift into sleep-
not because everything was okay, but
because she was finally letting go of the
weight for one night