I stepped inside with Applejack. Not bad. The first thing I noticed was the scent, clean but lived-in, a mix of fresh air and something warm, almost like cinnamon.

The kitchen was on the left small but sleek. Dark countertops, a modern stove, and a fridge covered in random magnets and sticky notes. A couple of empty coffee mugs sat near the sink, and a half-eaten granola bar rested on the counter. Someone wasn’t big on finishing breakfast.

Beyond that, the living room was cozy. A dark gray couch faced a small TV, and a matching armchair sat nearby. A green-striped rug covered part of the floor, and a low coffee table was cluttered with books, a remote, and a few stray papers. It wasn’t messy—just… real. Like someone actually lived here.

Sunset had clearly made the place her own. The walls had a warm orange tint, and above the TV, I noticed a small painted sun symbol.That little details everywhere screamed Sunset lives here.

“Not bad” I said, nodding in approval.

Applejack chuckled as she kicked off her boots near the door. “Yeah, Sunset keeps it nice. Well—” she glanced at the coffee table and the few stray clothes draped over a chair "—most of the time.”

Sunset scratched the back of her head, looking awkward. “Yeah, I, uh… I like to keep things comfortable.”

“Looks comfortable and stylish. Nice details you added.”

Sunset gave a small smile, but it didn’t quite reach her eyes. She looked distracted.

“Soo… maybe I should give you a little tour?” she offered, shifting her weight from one foot to the other.

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Oh, for the love of—Sunset, can I have a word with ya real quick?”

Sunset blinked. “Uh… sure?”

Applejack turned to me with a forced smile. “Won’t take but a sec, sugarcube.”

Then, without waiting for a reply, she grabbed Sunset’s wrist and practically dragged her toward the bathroom.

I watched them go, rubbing the back of my neck. That wasn’t weird at all.

The door closed, and suddenly, I was alone in the living room. I let out a breath and glanced around again.

So… this is where I’ll be living?

It wasn’t bad. Actually, it was pretty damn good compared to what I was used to. My last place had a bed that felt like it was made of pure wood, so I wasn’t exactly in a position to complain. But Sunset’s reaction… that was something else. She was clearly uneasy about this arrangement.

I walked over to the couch, glancing at the books stacked on the coffee table. One was a journal, its cover worn with use. I didn’t open it, but I could tell it was personal. Next to it was a half-melted candle, and beside that, an old photo frame faced down.

I sighed and sat down. Maybe this isn’t just weird for her—it’s weird for me too.

My eyes drifted toward the closed bathroom door.

Applejack had definitely noticed something off about Sunset. She wasn’t just surprised—I’d seen surprise before. This was different. She was more nervous then she usually was.

A minute passed. Then two. Then five.

I drummed my fingers against my knee.

Are they talking about me?

I wasn’t stupid, I knew when people were trying to dance around something. It wasn’t like I had some reputation here yet, so what was it? Did Sunset just hate the idea of living with me?

I wasn’t some creep. I wasn’t gonna snoop through her stuff or make things weird. If it was really too much for her, I’d leave.

I sighed and leaned back, muttering, “I’m not some pervert.”

“Are you?”

I nearly jumped out of my skin.

Applejack was standing right there with a teasing smirk on her face.

“Damn it, AappleJack” I groaned. “Don’t sneak up on people like that.”

She chuckled. “Ain’t my fault you were talkin’ to yourself.”

I ran a hand down my face. “No, I just… Look, if Sunset really doesn’t want me living here, I can find somewhere else. It’d just be easier, y’know?”

Applejack sighed and smacked her forehead, muttering something under her breath. “Boys.”

Sunset stepped forward. “No, it’s not that. I already said it’s fine, but…”

“But?” I prompted.

She hesitated.

Applejack rolled her eyes again. “Y’all need some serious time. Excuse me, sugarcube, gotta hit the bathroom.”

With that, she disappeared down the hall.

I looked back at Sunset, raising an eyebrow. “So?”

She rubbed her arm, eyes flickered to the side. “It’s just… random, that’s all. I wasn’t expecting it.”

“That makes two of us” I admitted. “But if it makes you uncomfortable, say the word. I don’t want this to be weird for you.”

“No, it’s not that, it’s just…”

I raised an eyebrow, waiting.

She hesitated. Again

“Sunset” I sighed, leaning forward on the couch. “Spill the tea. We’re not kids here.”

Her lips twitched, like she was fighting off a smirk. But then her eyes flickered with uncertainty again, and she shifted her weight.

“…It’s just, you’re my boss.”

That caught me off guard.

“And?”

She looked at me like it was obvious. “And now that we’re living together, don’t you think that’s… weird?”

Oh.

Ooooooh.

She wasn’t uncomfortable because she hated the idea of me living here. She wasn’t mad, wasn’t secretly regretting it—she was just… awkward about the whole boss-employee thing.

I stayed quiet for a second, then let out a short chuckle.

She looked at me funny. “What’s so funny?”

I tried to hold it in, but another laugh slipped out. And then another. Before I knew it, I was full-on laughing.

“Okay—okay—” I held up a hand, catching my breath. “Sunset, let me get this straight.” I gestured between us. “This whole time, you were acting weird around me, even at work, because you thought I’d—I don’t know—fire you?”

Sunset frowned. “Well, not like that—”

“Oh my gosh,” I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “Sunset. We are literally the same age.”

Applejack, who had just stepped back into the room, snorted. “He’s got a point, sugarcube.”

I ignored her, still grinning as I turned back to Sunset. “You seriously thought that just because we’re living together, I’d suddenly become some kind of strict, power-tripping boss? Sunset, have I ever made you treat me like some kind of authority figure?”

She opened her mouth, then shut it.

I smirked. “Uh-huh. That’s what I thought.”

She frowned. “That’s not... it’s different now. Before, if I messed up at work, I could just go home and forget about it. But now… now we live together. If I do something stupid at work, it’s gonna follow me home. If I—if I don’t clean my dishes or something, what if that makes things even worse? What if you actually get mad and—”

“Fire you?” I finished, grinning again.

Sunset let out a slow breath, rubbing the bridge of her nose. “You’re really enjoying this, aren’t you?”

“A little,” I admitted.

She groaned.

Applejack crossed her arms smirking. “I hate to say it, sugarcube, but that was pretty ridiculous. I mean, really? You were scared of gettin’ fired ‘cause you were bein’ yourself in your own dorm?”

“Shut up, AJ,” Sunset muttered, looking away.

Applejack laughed and i stood up from the couch, stretching my arms over my head before looking Sunset dead in the eye. “Alright, let’s make this official.”

Sunset narrowed her eyes. “Official?”

I placed a hand over my heart. “I solemnly swear that our private lives—meaning the time we spend in this apartment—will not affect our jobs. I will not fire you for forgetting to wash a dish. I will not fire you for talking back to me. And I definitely will not fire you for existing.”

She stared at me.

“Men, to think I actually have to say this out loud… Sunset, I’m not a fifty-year-old creep.”

That finally got a small chuckle out of her. She looked down, rubbing the back of her neck. “Alright. I won’t hold back anymore.” Then, she shot me a look. “But you better mean what you say.”

I met her gaze. “I do.”

Sunset sighed, her shoulders finally releasied some of the stress.

Applejack clapped her hands together. “Well, that was somethin’. I gotta say, I’m embarrassed for you, Sunset.”

Sunset groaned. “It’s fine now, okay?”

Applejack grinned. “Yeah, yeah. But next time, maybe just tell James what’s botherin’ you instead of gettin’ all weird about it.”

I crossed my arms, raising an eyebrow. “Yeah, seriously. You’re almost an adult, y’know.”

Sunset huffed, shoving me playfully. “Oh, shut up.”

“Wasn’t that hard, was it?” I smirked.

She rolled her eyes. “I guess.”

Applejack stretched, cracking her back before grabbing her bag. “Welp, it’s ‘bout time I head out. If I hurry, I might still make it back for my last couple classes.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow. “You’re actually going back?”

Applejack shrugged. “Ain’t no point in skippin’ the whole day if I don’t gotta.” She slung her bag over her shoulder, tipping her hat at me. “You take care now, city boy. And Sunset—try not to overthink every little thing, will ya?”

Sunset groaned. “Just go already.”

Applejack chuckled before heading out the door, leaving me alone with Sunset in our dorm.

For a moment, it was quiet. The air was still, like we were both just now realizing we were roommates—not just coworkers, not just classmates, but two people who would be sharing the same space, day in and day out.

Sunset sighed and pushed off the wall. “C’mon, let me show you your room.”

I followed her down the short hall. She stopped in front of a door—the one right next to hers. “Here you go” she said, stepping aside so I could take a look.

I pushed the door open and took in my new space. It was… simple. A bed, a desk, a closet. Nothing fancy, but more than enough. I walked in and without hesitation, flopped down onto the bed.

It was comfy.

“Nice” I muttered, stretching out.

Sunset leaned against the doorframe and watched me for a moment before shaking her head. “By the way you act at work, I thought you’d be… I don’t know, more serious in private.”

“Whaaa? Why would I?” I sat up, grinning. “I always live my life fully. You know what I mean?”

Sunset’s expression softened, but she didn’t nod. Instead, she shifted her weight, looking thoughtful. “To be honest… I don’t know.”

I tilted my head. “What do you mean?”

She sighed, rubbing her arm. “I get that you were miserable at Crystal Prep and all, but just transferring… isn’t this just running away?”

I considered that.

Then, I shook my head. “Nah” I said, standing up. “This was literally the last stand between the old me—” I pointed at myself. “—and this man.”

Sunset raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “And who exactly is this man?”

I smirked but didn’t answer right away. Instead, I turned, staring at the wall as I let my thoughts drift. “You know, when I wasn’t at the bar, but stuck in Crystal Prep, I was always thinking to myself…”

Sunset leaned in slightly. “About what?”

I took a slow breath.

“My mom” I said.

Sunset stiffened. I could feel her hesitation, her uncertainty about whether to press further.

“When she was…” My throat tightened. I swallowed hard. This is my new lore now. This is my story. Gotta get used to talking about it like it is truth.

I pushed forward. “When she was alive, she wanted me to be a surgeon. You know—blood, scalpels, cutting people open. Real Doctor McDreamy kind of stuff.”

Sunset’s eyebrows shot up. “What?”

I chuckled. “Yeah. I hated it. But, y’know, mom and everything. So, I started learning, trying to live up to her expectations.” I turned to Sunset and smirked. “For example, did you know the heart actually generates enough electricity to power a lightbulb?”

Her lips parted slightly. “Wait, seriously?”

“Yep. Your heart produces electrical impulses strong enough to keep a small light on. Kinda poetic, don’t you think?”

She nodded slowly with eyes full of curiosity. "Actually cool"

I watched her for a second, then walked up to her and gently placed a hand on her shoulder. “No, Sunset. It’s not cool.”

She looked up at me, confused.

I let out a slow breath and stepped toward the kitchen. “Imagine having the mental capacity only to question the things you’ve learned. That was me. I was studying, memorizing medical textbooks, learning every artery, every nerve… but it didn’t mean anything to me. I didn’t care that in the future i could be saving lives. I didn’t feel anything.”

Sunset followed me but her expression had changed. It wasn’t just curiosity anymore.

“This only led to stress,” I continued. “My body was sitting in a classroom, listening to all this crap—” I waved a hand dismissively. “—but my mind? My mind was waiting for me at the bar.”

Sunset stared at me, really seeing me for the first time.

“You could’ve been a surgeon” she said after a moment. Then, to my surprise, she bursted into laughter. “Oh my gosh, James. You’re really dumb.”

I turned to her, mock-offended. “Excuse me?”

She grinned. “You could’ve been a doctor, making six figures, wearing a fancy coat, saving lives—but nooo, you chose to be a bartender. A bartender.”

I shrugged. “Maybe.” Then, with a small smile, I added, “But I can’t say I’m not free.”

Sunset’s smirk faltered.

I leaned against the counter, watching her carefully. “Have you ever followed your dreams?”

She didn’t answer right away.

"I did" she finally admitted with quiet voice, like she was thinking about something from a long time ago. "I followed my dream." But then she exhaled, her lips pressing into a thin line. "But it ended… bad. So, I don’t know if you’ve made a good choice."

There was something serious in her tone, something that made me pause. I tilted my head at her.

"Hm… Is this about this whole ‘mean’ thing?" I asked.

That got a reaction.

Sunset’s eyes locked onto mine in an instant. She pushed off the wall, stepping toward me with an intensity I wasn’t expecting.

"Wait—how much do you know?"

She was inches from my face, close enough that I instinctively leaned back a little.

"Pretty much nothing," I admitted, raising a brow at her reaction. "Just that you were mean, and that you changed. That’s all. Nothing more."

She stayed like that for a second, watching me, searching my face for something. Then, with a sigh, she ran a hand through her hair and took a step back.

"Tell me the truth," she said, still watching me carefully. "Are you really telling the truth?"

I met her gaze without hesitation. "Yeah. If you really want to know, when I was at breakfast at Celestia and Luna’s place, they just said that your dorm was all to yourself 'cause no one wanted to live with you. That’s it. Nothing more. I mean it." I went to living room and sat on couch. "Luna and Celestia said it’d be better if you told me yourself. Buuuut…"

She tensed slightly, like she was bracing herself for whatever came next.

"I don’t care what you did," I said simply.

She blinked.

"What?" Sunset asked, genuinely confused. "How can you not?"

I shrugged. "I mean… I don’t know what happened. But who cares? Whatever you did, I haven’t seen you do it. It didn’t affect me in any way, so why should I judge you based on what someone else might tell me?"

She frowned, shifting uncomfortably. Her fingers scratched at her shoulder. "Maybe you’re right…"

I let out a breath and propped my feet up on the table. "Sooo, anyway what did you do? Just curious. I mean, everyone here seems like they get along. What was so bad that your reputation is soooo baaaaaaaaaaaaaad" I stretched out my arms to emphasize just how bad she was making it sound.

Sunset hesitated, leaning back against the wall again. "I was a real bully," she admitted. "Like… I ruined friendships. I was power-hungry. Thought I was better than everyone else. I took everything I could from the students here and..."

She stopped.

She was holding something back. I could see it—the way her shoulders tensed, the way her jaw tightened. There was more she wanted to say, something she didn’t want me to know.

I caught on, but I didn’t push. Instead, I tilted my head.

"That’s all?"

Sunset’s eyes widened slightly, like she hadn’t expected that response. "That’s not enough for you to see me differently?" Her voice shook slightly. "I was disgusting."

"And?" I said seriously, meeting her gaze.

She stared at me, unsure of what to say.

"You changed, right?" I continued. "You reformed yourself? You got a new friend group people who saw your mistakes but still chose you?" I spread my hands. "Doesn’t that prove that what happened is in the past and shouldn’t define you anymore?"

Sunset looked at me like I had just spoken in some alien language.

"You don’t get it," she muttered, shaking her head. "James, I.. what I did, it wasn’t just being mean. I hurt people. I made them hate each other. I made them hate themselves." She clenched her fists. "I was selfish, I was manipulative, I was cruel."

Her voice cracked slightly. It was like she was waiting for me to pull away, to finally look at her the way she clearly saw herself.

But I didn’t move.

Instead, I just exhaled and leaned back into the couch again.

"Okay"

Sunset blinked. "...What?"

"Okay" I repeated, shrugging. "So you were awful. What do you want me to do about it?"

She flinched. Not like I had hurt her, more like she had never heard someone respond like that before.

"You should care," she insisted, voice almost desperate. "You should hate me. Everyone else did. Or at least, they did for a long time. And even now, most people still don’t trust me."

"That’s their problem, not mine."

She gave me this look, like I was the strangest person she’d ever met.

"You’re unbelievable."

I leaned forward , resting my elbows on my knees."Sunset, you said you hurt people. You said you ruined friendships. But what I see what I’ve seen since I met you isn’t some manipulative monster. It’s someone who goes out of her way to help people. It’s someone who makes sure others feel comfortable. It’s someone who clearly cares about how she’s perceived now."

She swallowed hard, looking down. Her fingers fidgeted like she didn’t know what to do with them.

"You say you were cruel" I continued. "You say you were manipulative. Fine. I’ll take your word for it. But you know what else I see?"

She hesitated. "...What?"

"I see Applejack treating you like a friend" I said simply. "I see customers at work joking with you, trusting you to have their backs. And I see you, right now, hating yourself for something that isn’t even who you are anymore."

Her breath hitched slightly.

"That tells me everything I need to know," I said. "You changed. You became someone better. And from what I’ve seen, you are better."

Sunset was silent. Completely still.

"Look," I continued more casual now " I don’t give a damn about some nad memory of you, I care about the person standing in front of me. And right now? That person isn’t some bully. She’s just Sunset."

"You..."

"You really don’t care?"

I shook my head. "Nope. Not even a little."

She let out a weak, shaky chuckle. "...You’re so weird."

"Yeah, I get that a lot."

“But.. Thanks, James.” She let out a dry chuckle, but it didn’t hold any real amusement. “Hah, it’s sad… despite everything you said, people in school still think I’m the same person.”

I tilted my head, thinking. “Hmm. You know what you should do? Let me give you some advice.”

She glanced at me suspiciously. “What advice?”

“Talk less. Do less.”

She blinked. “...What?”

“Smile more” I added.

That got an eye roll out of her. “Really? This was a serious moment, and you ruined it.”

“No, no, hear me out” I insisted, holding up a hand. “Don’t let them know what you’re against or what you’re for. They’ll talk, they’ll judge, that’s just how people work” I gestured vaguely, like I could point to an invisible audience whispering behind our backs. “Knowing you, you probably tried to fix everything, right?”

She sighed. “What else could I do?”

“You could’ve just let them be” I said simply. “People aren’t gonna suddenly think, Oh, she’s good now because she wants to be. That’s not how this works. You don’t change their minds by telling them you’re different. They have to figure it out on their own.” I tapped my head. “It’s gotta get in their heads. That’s how messed up this world is.”

She bit her lip. “But… what if they never see me differently? What if they reject me forever?”

“Sunset, fear is what holds us down. We all feel it, fear of judgment, fear of failure, fear of regret. We spend so much time worrying about what other people think that we forget something important, it’s okay to be reckless sometimes. We’re human. We screw up. We fix things. And then we move on.”

Sunset snorted, shaking her head. “Easy ways never made a good tailor.”

I grinned. “See? Now you’re getting it.”

She smiled—small, but real. Still, there was something in her eyes, something deep, something she wasn’t saying. I could tell.

“What are you waiting for, Sunset?” I asked, my voice softer now. “You already did your part. You changed. You’re still changing. It’s not on you anymore. It’s on them to catch up.”

She tensed slightly, glancing away, like she was staring at something far off that only she could see. Then, after a long pause, she spoke.

“James… there’s something more to the story.”

I stayed quiet, letting her talk.

“I was po—” She hesitated, took a breath, then tried again. “There was this thing at the Fall Formal—”

“Actually.. No, no” I interrupted, shaking my head. “I don’t wanna hear it.”

She flinched slightly. “But it’s important—”

“No, it’s not.” I kept my tone firm but even. “You’re making it sound like it’s just another Oh, I was so bad story.”

She huffed and punched my shoulder lightly. “Hey!”

I smirked, rubbing the spot. “Sorry, sorry. But I mean it. I don’t wanna hear it.”

She frowned at me, confused. “Why?”

“Because it doesn’t matter,” I said simply. “Not to me.”

"I just… I feel like I have to explain myself. Like I owe it to people to tell them everything.”

I shrugged. “Maybe you do. Maybe you don’t. But do you owe it to me?”

She hesitated. “I… I don’t know.”

I flashed Sunset a half-smile, letting out a small, dramatic sigh. “Exactly. Ehhh, it’s boring being this serious , you get me?”

She arched an eyebrow at me. “Maybe you really should’ve been that surgeon. You’re ruining your mind on this bar.”

I pretended to think it over. “Nah. I prefer being coated in stray drops of whiskey over blood.”

She broke into a laugh, and for a second, she seemed genuinely at ease—until her stomach growled, loud enough for both of us to hear. Her cheeks went pink, and she cleared her throat.

“You hungry?”

“Maybe a little,” she admitted sheepishly.

"So maybe we order something? I will have to go somewhere later and tomorrow’s my first day at CHS, so as much as I want—really want—to go work at the bar tonight, I’m gonna have to skip. Gotta, y’know, be an actual student now.”

Sunset gave a sympathetic nod. “Probably for the best. We both could use a decent night’s sleep.”

I rolled my eyes, pretending to look stern. “Don’t get too happy. This time, I’m not paying you for any shift.”

She snorted. “That’s fine, boss. Not everything’s about money, you know.”

"Yeah, yeah so…” I changed the subject, glancing toward the kitchen area. “What are we gonna eat?”

Sunset’s face brightened a bit. “Maybe noodles?”

“With chicken?” I asked.

That was when she held up her hands, a small cringe tugging at her features. “I… don’t eat meat.”

I blinked, surprised. “Oh, for real?”

“Yeah” she said with a shrug.

I eyed her skeptically, crossing my arms. “And here I was, imagining this ‘giant bully who ruled the school’ inhaling steaks and stuff. Contradiction much?”

She rolled her eyes again. “I’ve never been able to eat meat. It’s just… I don’t know. It doesn’t sit right with me.”

“Not judging,” I promised, palms raised. “You got me curious, though. Since when?”

Sunset hesitated, fiddling with a stray thread on her jacket. “Since… I can remember, I guess.”

“Bet that’s a lie” I teased. “Come on, you must’ve tried it once.”

Her posture stiffened for a second. “No, I’m serious. It’s just—eh, it’s a topic for another day, okay?”

“Sure, weirdo” I said, shrugging. Her reaction was weird, but I decided not to push it.

“You’re weird,” she accused, though her eyes held a playful glint. “Mr. Intelligent Bartender or something.”

I spread my hands in mock modesty. “I can’t help my brilliance.”

She snorted. “Yeah, well, I’ll see how brilliant you are when you’re forking out the cash for these noodles.”

That settled it. We ordered a vegetarian option, noodles loaded with veggies, tofu maybe, anything to keep it meat-free. I would feel weird eating meat in front of her when she apparently vener eaten meat, and ordering delivery to the school dorm wasn’t as bizarre as I’d have thought, but it still felt weird to me. Sunset just assured me it was completely normal.

Unfortunately, my wallet did not thank me. Rest in peace, precious dollars I mumbled under my breath, thinking about the tip I’d gotten from Celestia that morning. Goodbye, sweet gift.

We ended up sprawled on the living room couch, watching some random sitcom Friends, ironically enough while slurping noodles out of plastic takeout containers. Every so often, Sunset would snicker at something on screen, and I’d throw in my own sarcastic commentary just to get her to roll her eyes at me again.

When we finished, Sunset gathered up our trash and took it to the bin. I stood up, and put on my coat.

“Gonna be… well, I don’t know when I’ll be back, but I’m heading out” I said, forcing a casual tone.

She frowned slightly, turning from the garbage can. “Will you find your way back here?”

“Eh, I’ll manage,” I answered. “I have my key, right?”

I patted my pocket, feeling the solid shape of the small dorm key.

“Okay, I’m locking the door once you’re gone” she warned, hands on her hips. “So don’t lose that key.”

I flashed a grin. “Duly noted.”

Her gaze lingered on me for a moment, curiosity flickering in her eyes. It was almost like she wanted to ask where I was going, but maybe she sensed she wouldn’t get a straight answer.

I turned and opened the door, the hallway outside quiet and dimly lit. “Later, Shimmer.”

She waved, stepping aside to let me pass. “Yeah, see you.”

Then, the door closed softly behind me.

As I made my way down to the parking lot, my thoughts started racing. Time to confront my mother—if she’s even home, that is. Either way, I’m getting my things. I just… can’t tell Sunset that. She doesn’t need to be dragged into this.

I pulled into the driveway of my old house a little past one in the afternoon. My mother’s car was not in the driveway thank every lucky star for that. Dealing with her was the last thing I wanted right now.

The place looked the same on the outside peeling paint, cracked front steps, that overgrown bush I’d always promised to trim tomorrow. Seeing it again felt like stepping into a memory.

In and out, I reminded myself.

Grab clothes, get out, done.

Digging through my keychain, I found the one for the front door, still there. It felt weird unlocking a home I’d spent half my life in, knowing I was only here to say a final goodbye.

When I walked inside, the first thing that hit me was the mess. Plates in the sink, junk mail piled on the kitchen table, random clothes scattered over chairs and counters. It hadn’t been this bad when I left actually, I’d cleaned the place day before storming out. She clearly hadn’t bothered to do it herself.

Figures. No point in dwelling on it, though. I moved fast, heading straight to my old bedroom.

It was all still there my bed unmade from the day I left, my posters, the cracked mirror I’d meant to replace, and the faded paint on the walls I’d once begged Mom to let me redo. The place looked… smaller than I remembered.

I popped open the old suitcase from my wardrobe and started shoving clothes inside shirts, pants, socks, anything I could get my hands on. No time to fold or be neat.

Mom could come back any minute.

I wasn’t planning on returning. Ever.

Once the suitcase was about half full, I took a second to glance around. What else am I missing? Then my eyes fell on an old photo Mom, Dad, and me, back when we were sort of a family.

I swallowed, grabbing the framed picture off my nightstand. “Okay” I mumbled, stuffing it carefully between my clothes.

“You’re coming with me.”

Everything else? Didn’t matter.

That was when I heard it—a car engine, sputtering in the driveway.

My stomach clenched. “Fuck” I hissed under my breath.

She’s here.

Desperation kicked in. I glanced around.

Hide?

No, that was stupid. I had to leave.

I wanted to leave.

Suitcase in one hand, I yanked open the bedroom window. It was a short drop to the side yard—nothing I couldn’t handle.

“S—son?”

Her voice froze me in place. I turned and there she was, standing just a few feet away, the front door half-open behind her. Mom.

Her eyes went wide, flicking from the open window to my suitcase in hand. Her mouth parted, like she was struggling to speak.

I threw one leg over the windowsill, ignoring the twisting in my gut. “Don’t say anything” I warned with my voice harsher
beeing than I intended. “I’m just here for my stuff. I’m not coming back.”

She took a step forward. “Son, I’m so—”

“Don’t.” My throat was tight, my free hand balled into a fist. “Don’t even start. You didn’t bother calling. You didn’t bother anything, so let’s not pretend.”

“I thought… I thought you’d cool off, realize how crazy this all is, and come back home.”

I let out a short, bitter laugh. “Well, guess not. I’m leaving—if I left anything, text me. Otherwise, don’t.”

“Please, s—”

“No!” I spat, turning my back on her, swinging the other leg over the windowsill.

I can’t do this.

But she followed.

“It’s about your father.”

Her words stabbed the air like a knife, stopping me mid-movement. For a heartbeat, I just hung there, half-in, half-out of the window, suitcase clutched tightly in my grip.

Everything in me wanted to run, to vanish, to erase this place from my life. But the mention of him… it made my chest feel like it was caving in.

My mother stood there, tears in her eyes, her hand reaching out as if to grab me, to keep me from leaving. The silence between us weighed more than the suitcase in my hand.

Author's Note

Hmmm i don't know what to write here, 7:38 am in my country, i'll think if i post it now or i will reread it later, this needs more polishing i think, also i think i'm trying to hard to slow it down, in other story mh knew about magic and everything by now, hm, and no. He's father isn't discord sombra, god or anything like that, idk for now let's call him mark. Men i'm sleppy. okey its now 17.37 pm and i forgot to publish it oof, also i have the same way of thining as james, i think i did pretty good job