Chapter 44: "Fragile Steps"
The bandage was tight but careful, wrapped with more patience than Zariah thought she deserved.
Jasmine set down the last of the supplies and sat back, her face pale and serious under the soft glow of the lamp.
"You don't have to talk about it," she said, breaking the heavy silence. "But if you ever want to... I'm here."
For a long time, Zariah didn't say anything. The words were stuck in her throat, heavy like stones.
But then — something cracked open inside her, something she hadn't realized she was still holding shut.
"It's like..." she began, voice barely above a whisper, "no matter how much I smile or pretend, it's still there. Eating me alive."
Jasmine didn't interrupt. She just nodded, urging her to keep going.
"And when I hurt myself, it's not because I want to die," Zariah said, staring at the wall. "It's because I don't know how else to survive it."
The admission left her shaking. She had never said that out loud before — not to anyone.
Jasmine wiped her eyes, trying to stay strong. "You shouldn't have to survive like that, Z."
"I don't know any other way," Zariah whispered.
Jasmine opened her mouth to say something else — something reassuring, something brave — but the sharp ring of Zariah's phone cut through the room like a blade.
They both jumped.
Zariah glanced at the screen — it was a text from one of her classmates.
The words hit her harder than any blade could.
Heard you finally snapped. Figures. You were always a freak.
Her blood ran cold.
Jasmine must have seen the look on her face, because she leaned over. "What is it?"
Zariah shoved the phone away. "Nothing. Just... school stuff."
But Jasmine's eyes darkened. She knew better.
Zariah turned away, curling her knees into her chest, feeling that old, terrible voice creeping back into her head.
You're broken.
You're too much.
You'll never be normal.
All the progress she thought she made that night — gone, shattered like glass.
And even though Jasmine was right there beside her, Zariah felt the edge calling her again.
Louder than before.
Stronger than ever.
She didn't know how much longer she could keep holding on.