The morning after the hospital visit feels like a heavy fog has descended over me.
I drag myself out of bed, the weight of everything pressing down on me, my parents' disappointment, the tension with Rafael, and the suffocating realization that things are changing whether I want them to or not.
The sun is barely rising, casting a pale light through my curtains. I glance at the clock. I'm already running late.
I rush to get ready for school, the weight of the uniform adding to the tension building in my chest. As I look at myself in the mirror, I feel... distant. My reflection feels like a stranger.
"I'll be fine," I mutter to myself, trying to convince myself that I can handle this. That I'll be able to juggle my second year in Medicine while dealing with everything else.
When I walk into the kitchen, I find Rafael sitting at the table, scrolling through his phone. He doesn't look up when I walk in, and for a moment, I just stand there, staring at him. The silence between us is suffocating, the distance almost tangible.
"You're up early." I finally break the silence, though my voice feels hollow.
He doesn't respond immediately, his eyes glued to the screen. It stings, but I don't say anything more. I grab a quick breakfast, still avoiding his gaze.
As I finish my coffee, Rafael stands up, finally looking at me. His eyes are cold—distant, like a door that's been closed between us.
"Are you ready?" he asks, his voice more formal than usual.
I nod, feeling the tension rise between us again. We're still strangers in the same house.
The drive to my university feels like a blur. I watch the world go by through the window, but nothing really registers. My thoughts are scattered, on school, on Rafael, on my parents.
When we arrive, Rafael parks the car without a word, just like he did the other day. I feel the silence press down on me.
He doesn't say goodbye when I get out of the car, and I don't look back. My feet carry me to the entrance of the medical building, where the chatter of my classmates fills the air.
Inside the lecture hall, my friends are already waiting. Sophie, Ashley, and Cleo are all sitting together, talking animatedly. When I walk in, they immediately fall silent and look up at me.
"Amanda! Finally!" Cleo says, her eyes lighting up as she waves me over.
"You look exhausted. Everything okay?" Ashley asks, her voice soft with concern.
I sit down beside them, trying to mask my unease with a small smile. "I'm fine. Just a lot on my mind."
Sophie raises an eyebrow. "You're telling me there's nothing going on? Amanda, come on."
I shift uncomfortably in my seat. "I don't know. It's complicated."
Cleo sighs. "You're not the only one who's feeling it, Amanda. We can see the tension."
Before I can respond, the professor walks in, and the conversation dies down.
The lecture is a blur. I try to focus, but my mind keeps drifting. My parents' words echo in my head. "Prove to us that you're improving, Amanda."
But how? How can I prove I'm improving when it feels like I'm failing at everything?
The day drags on, and by the time it's over, I'm emotionally exhausted. I can barely concentrate on the lessons, and when I walk out of the building, the last thing I want to do is go home and face Rafael.
As I approach the parking lot, I see a familiar face standing near the entrance. Jacob.
He's leaning casually against the wall, his arms crossed, watching me as I walk toward him.
"Amanda, hey." He smiles, his voice smooth as always. "You look like you could use a distraction."
I hesitate, unsure of what to say. "I'm fine. Just tired."
Jacob steps forward, closing the distance between us. "You know, you shouldn't be spending so much time with that guy. Rafael, was it?" He smirks, clearly teasing. "He doesn't seem like your type."
I bristle at his words. "What's that supposed to mean?" I snap, before realizing how defensive I sound.
Jacob doesn't seem bothered by my tone. He shrugs. "Just saying. You deserve someone who actually knows how to have fun." He winks, and I can't help but feel a spark of irritation.
But before I can respond, a voice calls out from behind me.
"Amanda."
I turn, my heart skipping a beat when I see Rafael standing a few feet away. His face is unreadable, but I can feel the tension between him and Jacob.
Jacob straightens up, looking between the two of us. "Well, I guess I'll let you two talk."
Rafael's eyes narrow slightly as Jacob walks away, his gaze following him for a moment before turning back to me.
"We're leaving." Rafael's voice is flat, but there's something dangerous in his tone.
I feel the sting of anger bubbling up, but I don't say anything. I nod and walk toward Rafael's car, not bothering to look at him.
The drive home is uncomfortable, as always. Rafael doesn't say a word, and I don't either. The silence feels heavier with each passing minute, the tension palpable.
When we arrive at the mansion, I get out of the car quickly, eager to escape the suffocating atmosphere between us.
I head straight for the front door, but before I can get inside, Rafael stops me.
"Amanda."
I turn, looking at him, my breath catching in my chest.
His voice is low, controlled. "What's going on with Jacob?"
I freeze. I didn't think he cared. "What do you mean?" I ask, trying to play it off, but my heart is racing.
He steps closer, his eyes darkening. "I don't like him. And I don't like the way he looks at you."
The words hit me harder than I expected. I don't know what to say, and before I can respond, Rafael turns and walks toward the door, leaving me standing there in the cold.