It had been two weeks since I stopped taking my pills, and I hated how much I needed them.
Sleeping had become a battle. Some nights I barely closed my eyes, and even when I did, it never felt like enough. My head felt heavy most of the time, like I was always catching up on something I couldn't reach.
And then there was Raymond.
He called every night.
Somehow, it became a routine. I would lie in bed, phone pressed to my ear, listening to his breathing when neither of us had anything to say. Other nights, we talked about random things, mostly about me. He always found a way to turn the conversation back to me.
Whenever I asked about him, he would dodge it.
"You'll know soon," he would say.
Annoying.
Very annoying.
Still… I didn't hang up.
I sighed and turned on my bed, staring at the ceiling.
Mum would be so disappointed if she knew I stopped taking the pills. She gave them to me to help, and now here I was, struggling like this.
But something about them didn't feel right anymore.
For as long as I could remember, I had always had trouble sleeping. The pills made it easier, quieter… like they were blocking something.
I didn't know what.
And that scared me.
School had been normal, if anything here could be called normal.
Everyone carried themselves like they were important, like they needed to be seen and admired. I wasn't interested in any of that. I kept to myself, and so far, no one had crossed my path in a way that mattered.
That morning, a memo dropped.
Students could now visit the opposite gender dorms until 6 p.m.
The group chat practically exploded.
I just read through the messages, shaking my head. People were acting like it was the best thing that had ever happened to this school.
Maybe it was… for them.
Sophie and I had grown closer. Not just friends anymore.
It felt like having a sister.
We shared everything. Well… almost everything.
She told me about her relationship, how she was dating a popular influencer but keeping it private. She sounded scared when she talked about it, like she was holding onto something fragile.
I reassured her.
I didn't tell her about Raymond.
I don't even know why.
Maybe because I didn't understand it myself.
Fridays were our thing.
Gym in the morning, then back to the room to rest, clean, or cook.
That day was no different.
We had just finished freshening up when a knock came from the door.
Sophie and I paused.
We weren't expecting anyone.
She walked over and opened it.
"Good morning, ladies."
Maxwell.
Of course.
He walked in like he owned the place, smiling like always, holding two small boxes in his hands.
"Oh, you girls smell nice," he said, pulling Sophie into a quick hug before turning to me.
We hugged too.
Max had this energy about him. Easy. Light. The kind that made things feel less serious than they actually were.
He dropped onto my bed like it was his and gestured for Sophie to sit.
"Well… we have a birthday party tomorrow."
I blinked.
A party?
Here?
Apparently, the school had an event hall students could rent, and everything was supposed to end by 10 p.m.
Supposed to.
"Whose party?" Sophie asked.
"Andreina. She invited me, so..."
"Andreina? Raymond's ex best friend?" Sophie cut in.
I stilled.
Raymond.
Again.
"Wait… what?" I finally spoke.
But no one answered me immediately.
"It's not a big deal," Max said. "Let's just go and have fun."
Sophie didn't look convinced.
"Can someone explain?" I asked.
She hesitated, then sighed.
"Raymond had a girlfriend. Daisy. They were… everything. Everyone loved them."
Something tightened in my chest.
"Then she died," Sophie continued quietly. "In her sleep."
My brows pulled together.
"Andreina was her roommate and her best friend," she added.
Silence filled the room.
"No one knows what really happened. But after that… Raymond and andreina had a huge fight accusing each other of her her death. Raymond wasn't always the "The devil of Crestford" he was once our prince charming.."
I swallowed.
Something about that didn't sit right with me.
At all.
After Max left, Sophie looked at me.
"Do you think we should go?"
I could hear the uncertainty in her voice.
But me?
I wanted answers.
"I think we should," I said. "We might actually learn something."
She studied me for a moment, then nodded slowly.
Later that evening, another knock came.
This time, my heart already knew.
"Good evening, Sophie. Is Emily in?"
His voice.
Sophie turned to me, confused.
Before I could explain, he stepped inside.
Said something to her quietly.
And she left.
Just like that.
I stared at him.
"What did you say to her?"
"To give me ten minutes."
Of course.
He sat on my bed.
Again.
"How are you feeling, Emily?"
"Do you enjoy breaking rules?" I snapped. "Or do you just enjoy annoying me?"
He didn't answer.
Instead, he picked up the invitation box.
His expression shifted.
"You're going?"
"Yes."
He looked at me for a second longer than necessary.
"Any dreams yet?"
"No."
A pause.
"You look good, Emily."
And just like that, he stood up.
"Take care of yourself."
Then he left.
Just like always.
Leaving confusion behind.
When Sophie came back, I tried to explain.
She didn't let me.
"You know what? Keep it," she said. "I warned you."
My chest tightened.
"I need space."
And just like that, she packed her bag with the things she needed for the party and left.
I stood there, staring at the door.
Then the tears came.
I didn't mean to hurt her.
I just… didn't know how to explain something I didn't even understand myself.
Max texted later.
She was safe and she was staying with a friend. He suggested that we could fix things at the party.
I stared at the message for a long time.
I really hope so.