The sound of my alarm jolts me awake, and for a moment, I’m disoriented, unsure of where I am. The reality of the past few days sinks in as I sit up in bed, my mind still hazy from sleep and cluttered with flashes of last night—the way Thaddeus’s fingers brushed against mine, the softness in his eyes, and the way the night was almost too perfect. But it feels distant now, like it’s already starting to fade. I shake my head, and go through my morning routine,:mechanically brushing my teeth, changing into a hoodie and jeans, and tying my shoes. But no matter how much I try to focus on the motions of getting ready, my mind keeps returning to that moment with him, the way his presence seemed to surround me, like everything else just disappeared when he was near. I can’t help but let out a frustrated sigh, brushing a hand through my hair as I finish getting dressed. I don’t know what to make of it all. I don’t know if I should even be thinking about him like this. It’s just—everything felt so _right_, but now, the distance between us feels heavier than I expected. I grab my bags and head downstairs, hoping that the noise of the house will help drown out the thoughts swirling in my head. The house feels emptier than usual—no voices, no footsteps echoing through the halls. It’s odd. Normally, I’d hear my parents arguing, or my mom’s soft laughter as she talks to the staff, but today, the silence is almost suffocating. I walk into the kitchen, where the staff are already setting up for breakfast. I smile, greeting them quietly as I grab a cup of coffee. The house feels more like a hotel than a home right now, and the disconnection from my parents is unsettling. I feel like I’m just drifting, detached from everything that used to anchor me. “Good morning, Miss Prescott,” Mrs. Clark, one of the housemaids, says with a warm smile. “How are you today?” “Good morning,” I respond, forcing a smile as I nod to her. “I’m alright. Just… getting ready to head back to campus.” “Ah, that time already,” she says, giving me a sympathetic look. “Well, we’ll miss you around here. It’s always quieter when you’re gone.” I give her a small smile in return, but my mind is elsewhere as I pour myself a cup of coffee. Then, I see her. Ms. Gilbert, the head of the staff and someone who’s always felt like a second mom to me. She’s carrying a tray with my usual breakfast—scrambled eggs, toast, and fresh fruit. “Morning, sweetheart,” she says, her voice gentle, but with that knowing warmth I’ve always relied on. “You look like you could use a little something to start your day.” I take a seat at the kitchen island as she sets the tray down in front of me. Her smile is comforting, and for a moment, it feels like I’m back in my own world, where things aren’t as chaotic. “Thanks, Ms. Gilbert,” I say, offering her a soft smile. “How’s everything this morning?” She gives me a small shrug, her expression turning a bit more serious. “Oh, you know. Same old. But you’re leaving soon, right? Back to campus?” “Yeah,” I say quietly, picking at my food. “I have to head back later today.” Ms. Gilbert sits down across from me, folding her hands on the table, a concerned look crossing her features as she watches me. I don’t know why, but I feel the need to ask her something that’s been sitting in the back of my mind. “Ms. Gilbert,” I start hesitantly, unsure of how to phrase it. “I… I heard my parents yelling last night. Do you know what it was about?” She pauses, her gaze flickering to the doorway as if weighing whether or not to tell me. I can tell it’s not an easy subject, but she sighs and lowers her voice. “Sweetheart…” she starts gently. “Your mother… she found out that your father has a child with another woman. That’s what the argument was about.” The words hit me like a punch to the gut, and suddenly, the room feels like it’s closing in on me. I can barely process what she’s just told me, and the food in front of me goes completely unnoticed. A child. Another child. My father—_my father_—has a child with someone else. I feel the nausea rise in my throat, my appetite vanishing completely. I can’t eat, can’t even think straight. I try to force a response, but nothing comes out. My mind is a whirlwind of thoughts, none of them making any sense. Ms. Gilbert reaches out, placing a hand on mine, her touch soft but comforting. “I’m sorry, honey,” she says quietly. “I know that’s not easy to hear.” I nod numbly, forcing a smile to my lips, though it feels fake, hollow. “It’s okay, Ms. Gilbert. I just… didn’t expect that.” She nods, understanding. “It’s a lot to take in. But I know you’ll get through it.” I stand up quickly, grabbing my bag and forcing myself to leave the room before my emotions overwhelm me. I don’t even say goodbye, just mutter something under my breath as I walk out the door. I can’t deal with this right now. I can’t deal with _him_ and _her_ and everything that’s crashing down around me. I need to get to campus. I need to forget. The drive to school feels like it takes forever, the weight of what I’ve just learned pressing down on me the entire time. I don’t even notice the drive, just lost in my own thoughts about my dad, the betrayal, the other child. I can’t shake the image of him, the man I’ve looked up to my entire life, having a secret like that. By the time I pull into the parking lot of the school, I’m exhausted—emotionally drained. I don’t even care about grabbing my stuff from the trunk. I head straight for my dorm, ignoring everyone and everything around me. I can’t think about anything else, not even Thaddeus or last night. The idea of him, of the way he looked at me, it all fades into the background. All I want is to be alone, to curl up and shut out the world. When I get to my room, I lock the door behind me and flop onto my bed, pulling the covers over my head as if I can hide from it all. The silence is deafening, but it’s the only thing I can bear right now. Everything feels broken.