Old Wounds and New Confessions

Chapter 16: Old Wounds and New Confessions

Erica had not anticipated anything out of the ordinary that afternoon. It was merely another day, another routine walk down the hallway with her headphones in, allowing the music to fill the spaces in her mind that she preferred to keep occupied. Although she was physically present, her thoughts often wandered elsewhere, preventing her from engaging with the world around her.

For months, she had trained herself to ignore certain emotions—particularly the lingering ache that surfaced whenever she caught a glimpse of Nicole in the distance. Though she wished otherwise, there remained an undeniable pang in her chest whenever their eyes met across a crowded classroom, only for Nicole to glance away as if they had never shared anything meaningful.

Nevertheless, Erica convinced herself that she was fine.

Or, at the very least, that was the version of reality she chose to accept.

However, everything shifted in a single moment—one that she neither expected nor prepared for.

As she stood near the vending machines just outside the cafeteria, she absentmindedly searched her pockets for spare change. The sound of laughter from a nearby group barely registered in her mind, at least until she recognized one particular voice—Cloud's.

Cloud,