***
The infirmary was quiet, the only sounds being the soft beeping of monitors and the occasional rustle of the wind outside. I sat beside Esme's bed, my fingers lightly tracing the patterns on the blanket. She lay there, still and silent, her chest rising and falling with each breath. The healer had assured me that Esme was physically fine, but her spirit was trapped somewhere I couldn't reach.
Loneliness gnawed at me, the weight of recent events pressing down heavily. I needed to talk to someone, to share the whirlwind of emotions and experiences that had overwhelmed me. And even though Esme couldn't respond, talking to her felt like a small comfort, a way to bridge the gap between us.
"Hey, Esme," I began softly, my voice barely a whisper. "I know you can't hear me, but I need to ta
