Winter Found a Heart

“Zoe’s coming back. How do you plan to explain things to Audrey?” Maxwell’s voice echoed clearly from inside the private room. He had been Mason’s childhood friend. I hesitated, my fingers pausing on the door handle. After all these years of clinging to Mason, I found myself suddenly curious about his response. The room fell silent for a moment. Half a minute later, Mason’s voice shattered the stillness, his words dripping with sarcasm. “Why would I need to explain?” “She’s just a pet to me. Do you explain things to your dog?” Laughter rippled through the room. Maxwell chuckled, teasing, “That’s Mason for you, bold and shameless as ever!” I couldn't help but force a bitter smile as I stood outside the door, listening to everything. I didn’t cry or create a scene. I didn’t even argue. It felt as though I wasn’t even part of the conversation taking place inside. Still, the heavy gift box in my hands reminded me that I wasn’t invisible. They weren’t talking about someone else. They were talking about me. For Mason’s twenty-sixth birthday, I had spent months traveling overseas, using every connection I had to secure the limited-edition airplane model he had wanted. The reason I had been late was due to shipping issues that had delayed the delivery. Yet, no matter how hard I had tried to resolve the situation, their mocking words reverberated in my mind. How could I not feel utterly crushed? I hadn’t wanted to leave, but after so many years of being around Mason, my first instinct had always been to consider his feelings. Time was growing late. If I stayed much longer, I knew Mason would grow annoyed. I pushed the door open and entered. As soon as I stepped inside, the room fell into an unsettling silence. The atmosphere thickened with tension, yet I forced myself to appear nonchalant as I made my way toward Mason. “Mason, happy birthday,” I said, my voice steady despite the storm raging inside me. He glanced at the airplane model in my hands, his lips curling into a smirk. “Impressive. You actually managed to get your hands on it.” Maxwell and the others continued their mockery. “Of course. Audrey will do anything to please you, won’t she?” “Mason could ask for the stars, and she would fetch them for him!” Their words barely touched me anymore. My cheeks flushed for a moment, but I had grown accustomed to such ridicule. I was about to sit down when Mason casually stretched his long legs, blocking my way. His expression was cold, his eyes filled with disdain and impatience. “There’s no room for you. You should leave.” 'No room?' I had barely been there for two minutes. I dug my fingers into my palms, forcing a smile that felt painfully awkward. I did my best to keep my voice steady. "Should I come by the office tomorrow?" I asked, my words betraying the anxiety I felt. Tomorrow would be Zoe’s return. Maxwell muttered under his breath, his insults unrelenting. “I’ve never seen anyone as shameless as you.” "Don’t waste your time. I have other things to handle," Mason cut in, his voice cold and final. He didn’t even spare me a glance. I forced a smile, pretending to accept it, and turned to leave. “Alright.” As I stepped out of the room, the door slammed shut behind me, the unmistakable sound of the lock clicking into place. 'How much did they fear that my presence would ruin their enjoyment?' I allowed myself a bitter smile. Having already seen Mason that day, I wasn’t eager to return and face the others. 'Zoe will be back tomorrow. What will I do when the headaches come back?' ***** Zoe and I shared a deep connection, one that was unique and undeniable. She had been frail and sickly for as long as I could remember, struggling with even the simplest tasks. A fortune teller had once predicted that only a girl born on the same day, month, and year could protect her from illness until she turned eighteen. If it didn’t happen, the consequences would be dire when she reached adulthood. That was when the Mitchell family found me at the orphanage. I had been brought in to shield Zoe from misfortune. Curiously, after I became part of the Mitchell family, Zoe’s health began to improve. However, from that point on, I began suffering from chronic migraines, and the pain grew unbearable. What was even more perplexing was that whenever Mason was around, my headaches seemed to ease. He and Zoe had grown up together, their relationship filled with unspoken tension and complexity. Mason hadn’t liked me. In fact, he had despised me, convinced that I would take what belonged to Zoe. Even though I knew he hated me, I still made sure to see him every day. Mason never treated me with kindness. Then one day, Zoe left for abroad without telling anyone. She had been gone for eight years. I became the stand-in, the one Mason had turned to in his anger. That was when he began to notice me. In his eyes, I had been nothing more than a way to get back at Zoe. Even without any official place in his life, I remained in the background, willing to accept whatever role he had for me. My friends believed I was hopelessly in love with him, and Mason thought the same. In fact, the truth was known only to me. Over the years, I had consulted numerous doctors, tried various treatments, but no one could find the cause of my headaches. I could only stay close to Mason, hoping he might be the key to my relief. I never expected Zoe to return suddenly. 'What will Mason do then? Will he still allow me to see him every day?' The answer was clear. 'No, he won’t.' No one had understood his obsession with Zoe more than I did. The deafening music in the club wasn’t enough to drown out the storm of emotions brewing inside me. I sat at the bar, downing my drink in one go. The alcohol burned my throat, and my eyes watered. For a moment, I almost wished for a hangover severe enough to overshadow the pain in my head. Perhaps then, I could escape the weight of it all. Instead, I found myself dying of embarrassment. "Excuse me, you're drinking my beverage," the voice interrupted.