Adrian knew he was getting better.
Everyone could see it.
He could see it too.
He spoke more.
He stayed around people.
He didn't freeze as much.
He didn't run to his room every time something felt off.
But there were still things—
Things he couldn't control yet.
And those were the ones that bothered him the most.
—
It started at night.
Not every night.
But enough.
Adrian was asleep when it happened.
This time, it wasn't just a memory.
It felt real.
Too real.
—
He was sitting on the floor.
Not at a table this time.
The room was the same.
Dark.
Small.
The air felt heavy.
His younger self was there again.
Back against the wall.
Knees pulled in slightly.
Trying to stay still.
Trying not to make noise.
Footsteps.
Slow.
Getting closer.
Adrian felt it before he even saw anything.
That same pressure.
That same fear.
"Don't move."
The voice was quiet.
But it carried weight.
The kind that made your body listen even when you didn't want to.
Adrian couldn't see the face.
Just the presence.
The shadow.
Something moved closer.
Too close.
Adrian's chest tightened.
His breathing stopped for a second.
Then—
—
He woke up.
Fast.
Too fast.
His body reacted before his mind did.
He sat up suddenly, his breathing uneven, his heart racing like he had been running.
"…No," he muttered, looking around quickly.
His room.
The bed.
The door.
Everything was normal.
But his body didn't calm down.
His hands were shaking.
His chest felt tight.
Like something was still there.
"…It's not real," he said, but his voice wasn't steady.
It didn't help.
Not this time.
Adrian swung his legs off the bed and stood up, pacing once across the room.
He ran a hand through his hair, trying to think.
Trying to ground himself.
But the feeling stayed.
Stronger than before.
"…I'm here," he said again, louder this time.
Still not enough.
He stopped.
Stared at the door.
Then walked to it without thinking too much.
He opened it and stepped into the hallway.
The house was quiet.
Everyone was asleep.
Adrian stood there for a second.
Then turned and walked straight to Alessio's room.
He didn't knock this time.
He just opened the door.
—
Alessio woke up immediately at the sound.
He sat up slightly, his eyes adjusting.
"Adrian?"
Adrian stood at the door, his breathing still uneven.
"…I couldn't stop it."
Alessio didn't ask what.
He already knew.
"Come here," he said, moving slightly to make space.
Adrian walked in and sat on the edge of the bed, his hands still tense.
"It's fine," Alessio said quietly.
Adrian shook his head.
"…It's not."
Alessio didn't argue.
He just stayed calm.
"What happened?"
Adrian stared at the floor.
"…I saw more."
Alessio waited.
"…He told me not to move."
His voice dropped slightly.
"…And I didn't."
The silence that followed wasn't empty.
It was heavy.
Alessio's hands clenched slightly.
"…You're not there now," he said.
Adrian shook his head again.
"I know that."
"But your body doesn't," Alessio added.
Adrian exhaled slowly.
"…Yeah."
He leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on his knees.
"…I couldn't calm down."
"You're calming down now."
Adrian didn't answer.
But his breathing had started to slow.
Just a little.
After a few seconds, Alessio said,
"Stay here."
Adrian didn't hesitate.
"…Okay."
—
He didn't lie down immediately.
He just sat there, trying to steady himself.
After a while, Alessio spoke again.
"…Do you remember more this time?"
Adrian nodded slightly.
"…It's clearer."
Alessio didn't ask for details.
But Adrian gave some anyway.
"…It wasn't just about being slow."
His voice stayed low.
"…Sometimes I had to stay still."
Alessio's expression hardened slightly.
Adrian continued,
"…If I moved… it got worse."
He didn't explain what "worse" meant.
He didn't need to.
Alessio understood enough.
"…You don't have to go through that again," he said.
Adrian let out a quiet breath.
"…I know."
"But it still feels like I am."
Alessio didn't argue.
Because that part was true.
—
After a few more minutes, Adrian finally lay down.
Not fully relaxed.
But not as tense as before.
The room was quiet again.
But this time, it didn't feel empty.
Adrian stared at the ceiling for a while.
"…I thought I was getting better," he said quietly.
Alessio, lying on the other bed, replied,
"You are."
Adrian frowned slightly.
"…Then why does this still happen?"
Alessio didn't answer immediately.
"…Because getting better doesn't mean it stops right away."
Adrian didn't like that answer.
But he didn't reject it either.
—
The next morning, Adrian looked tired.
Not exhausted.
But not fully rested.
When he walked into the dining room, everyone noticed.
"You look like you didn't sleep," Nico said.
Adrian sat down.
"…I didn't sleep well."
Marco looked at him.
"Nightmare?"
Adrian hesitated.
Then nodded.
"…Yeah."
Marco didn't push further.
"Do you want to stay home?"
Adrian shook his head.
"No."
"Are you sure?"
Adrian nodded again.
"…Yeah. I don't want to stay in my head all day."
Marco accepted that.
"Alright."
—
At school, Adrian felt slower.
Not physically.
Just mentally.
Like part of his focus was still somewhere else.
During class, he caught himself zoning out more than once.
The teacher noticed.
But she didn't call him out.
She just let him work at his own pace.
At lunch, Alessio looked at him.
"You're tired."
Adrian nodded.
"…I know."
"You don't have to push today."
"I'm not pushing," Adrian said. "I'm just… here."
Alessio nodded.
"That's fine."
—
After school, Adrian didn't say much on the way home.
He leaned his head back and closed his eyes for a few minutes.
Not sleeping.
Just resting.
When they got back, he didn't go to his room.
He stayed in the living room again.
Even though he was tired.
Even though part of him wanted to be alone.
He stayed.
Because he knew—
Being alone wouldn't help.
—
That evening, he didn't talk much.
But he listened.
And that was enough.
Later that night, when he went to his room, he didn't sit at his desk.
He didn't open his notebook.
He just lay down.
Staring at the ceiling again.
"…I can't control everything," he said quietly.
That part was clear now.
There were still things that would come back.
Things that would hit him without warning.
Things he wouldn't be ready for.
But—
There was also something else.
He could choose what to do after.
And that mattered.
Adrian turned onto his side, closing his eyes slowly.
"…I'm still here."
And even though the night wasn't perfect—
Even though the memories weren't gone—
That thought stayed with him.
And for now—
That was enough.