Chapter 33: "Patterns I Can't Unsee"
Jasmine stared at her phone for the third time that hour.
Still no reply.
She knew better than to panic too quickly—but this wasn't like Zariah. Not now. Not since that message a few days ago that was barely a cry for help. It was more like a whisper of survival.
Still, Jasmine felt it—that sharp shift in the air. Like something unseen had changed. Like tonight was one of those nights.
The last time Zariah hadn't responded, she'd been sitting on a bathroom floor bleeding in silence.
So Jasmine called her.
No answer.
Called again.
Straight to voicemail.
She put her phone down, stood up, then sat back down again.
She didn't want to overreact.
She didn't want to be wrong.
But the pit in her stomach screamed louder than her doubt.
Zariah, meanwhile, was still in the bathroom—curled up, frozen, staring at the tile like it held secrets. Her thoughts weren't words anymore. Just flashes. Gone. Empty. Quiet. Enough.
She hadn't eaten in two days.
She hadn't slept in three.
The blade was in the drawer.
And this time, her hands didn't even shake.
But then her phone buzzed—once.
Just a flash of Jasmine's name across the screen.
She didn't answer.
But something inside her cracked. Not enough to stop. Just enough to hesitate.
Meanwhile, Jasmine had made up her mind. She pulled on a hoodie, grabbed her bike, and pedaled like the wind was chasing her. She didn't text. She didn't ask.
She just went.
Because this time, the silence wasn't normal.
And if she was wrong, so be it.
But if she was right… then maybe showing up could stop something she'd never forgive herself for missing.