It was off hours, long after most students had left the campus and the usual buzz of the university had settled into an uneasy quiet. Jay and Venelope were walking slowly out of the building together. The chilly evening air settled around them and Jay lagged behind, her steps dragging with the weight of everything swirling inside her.
Venelope, ever the chatterbox when sensing silence growing too thick, tried to lighten the mood. She spoke about everything and nothing stories from their classmates, upcoming exams, a funny incident from the cafeteria anything to pull Jay's mind away from the dark corners of her overthinking.
But Jay wasn't listening. Her eyes were fixed on the pavement ahead, head bowed as if trying to see the answers hidden in the cracks between the tiles. She was walking carefully.
Suddenly, she stopped with a sharp jerk.
Venelope, who was a few steps ahead, turned back playfully and saw that jay was left behind her quite far. She ran up to her, "Jay?"
No answer.
"Jay," she said again, stepping closer.
Jay didn't look up. She was frozen, her gaze locked on the concrete beneath her feet.
"Venelope... I want to go home," she said, voice barely above a whisper, strained and fragile.
Venelope smiled gently, softening her tone. "Go."
Jay's eyes flicked up, searching. "Go?"
"Yeah, go," Venelope repeated simply, nodding as if giving permission.
Jay looked at venelope without saying anything tears pricking at her eyes, blurring the world around her. Words wouldn't come and were not at all forming she wanted to cry loudly she was overwhelmed. Venelope was smiling she folded her arms and looked into her eyes lovingly and whispered softly, "Gooo". Jay didn't do anything she just needed that motivation, so she just turned and ran, the rush of cold air burning in her lungs as her heart hammering, wildly her tears drying by the cold wind her.
She was panting heavily by the time she reached her house, sweat slicking her skin despite the cool night. Every breath felt sharp and ragged, like inhaling shards of glass and her throat was dry.
Her hand reached out for the doorknob, fingers trembling. Then, almost instinctively, she pulled back, her body urging her to run away again, to disappear into the night.
But with eyes squinting shut against the ache, she forced herself to turn and grip the handle again. The door creaked open.
Inside, the familiar shapes of her parents sat rigid on the couch, their faces etched with worry and tension.
Before they could speak, her mother's eyes lit up and she hurried forward, voice trembling, "My dear, I thought you"
Jay cut her off with a bitter smile, her voice cold and distant as she slipped off her shoes. "You thought I had run away."
Without another word, she strode past them, shutting her bedroom door with a forceful bang that echoed through the quiet house and collapsed onto her bed, not crying now just silent and hollow.
She had no clue what she was doing, no reason for the turmoil inside. No answers. Just an empty, aching stillness. She was ready to go with venelope to her apartment to run away but then she couldn't and she couldn't understand why. Minutes were passing in that calm quiet, before the door opened softly.
Her mother entered, clutching a delicate garment bag. She smiled, trying to beam with hope and warmth.
"Jay, look at this." She gently shook the bag. "This was my wedding gown. I took it out just for you… it will look beautiful on you. Literally."
Jay's face remained buried in her mattress. Without moving, without even looking, she whispered, "I won't wear your dress. I want my own dress."
Her mother stepped closer, undeterred. "My dear, this dress is gorgeous, such a beautiful piece of history. Look here." She opened the bag, smoothing the fabric toward Jay's face.
But Jay turned her head sharply, still sitting up but refusing to meet her mother's eyes. "I said I want my own dress."
There was a pause. Then her mother's voice softened, almost like a coaxing melody. "Yeah, yeah, sure. As you say. Tomorrow, we'll go pick out a beautiful dress just for you." And with that, she retreated from the room.
As she left the room, Jay's stomach growled loudly, breaking the heavy silence like a cruel reminder.
She gave a bitter, almost mocking laugh. They know what dress I should wear, she thought, but they don't even know if I've eaten today.
She shook her head, as if trying to shake off a fog that had settled deep inside her.
Then, almost with surprise, she realized: I haven't had a stomach ache since that day… The memory flashed unbidden the mysterious day her body had betrayed her, the strange absence of pain, the lingering question of what had really happened.
Curious and cautious, she pressed her palm firmly against her stomach, trying to find any sign of discomfort. Nothing.
Her stomach growled again, louder this time.
Sighing, she pushed herself up and went to the bathroom to wash her face, splashing cool water to wake herself.
Stepping into the kitchen, she opened the fridge. Inside was a bowl of porridge left from the morning, some eggs and bread, and a few raw ingredients waiting for cooking.
Quietly, she cooked a simple meal, fried eggs, toasted bread, and porridge reheated.
Carrying the tray back to her room, she began to eat, leaving the door of her room partially open. Her parents watched from the doorway, eyes full of unspoken questions and fears. Then her mother stepped inside quietly. "Do you want some coffee, love?" she asked softly.
Jay shook her head.
"Why?" I am brewing some, you should take some.
"I have stomach pain, I cannot take coffee…" jay said, while eating.
"Ahhh.. then would you like some warm milk!" her mother again said.
Jay stopped eating and looked up, "mother I only want to eat right now…"
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