Celeste stood quietly before the heavy wooden door, her fingertips lightly brushing against its cool, polished surface. Her heart hammered in her chest, each beat resonating like a distant drum, filled with dread and overwhelming uncertainty. She had stood in this same position countless times over the past weeks, each instance ending with her retreating back to the solitude she'd become accustomed to.
Today was no different.
Sunlight seeped beneath the door, casting gentle beams across her feet, but it felt cold and distant rather than inviting. Celeste drew in a slow, unsteady breath, attempting to calm the tremors racing through her. The world beyond seemed impossibly vast and intimidating, filled with people who might judge her weakness or exploit her vulnerabilities.
"I can't," she
