The forest wraps around me, the scent of damp earth mingling with the sharp tang of pine, as I push forward, crunching through a tapestry of fallen leaves. Each step stings with frustration, and the weight of the wooden wolf carving Kael gave me clings heavily in my pocket—a constant reminder of expectations I can no longer bear. The moonlight filters through the branches, casting dappled shadows across my face, illuminating the turmoil within me, battling against the desire to scream, to run away from the world I feel so trapped in.
“Why do they have to keep twisting things?” I mutter to myself, my fingers squeezing the carving tightly as if it could provide solace against the onslaught of emotions threatening to engulf me. Selena's laughter rings in my ears, mocking and sinister, every
