George's visits became more frequent, and the line between friendship and something deeper began to blur. Anna found herself laughing more easily around him, relaxing in ways she hadn't planned to. His presence had become familiar—almost comforting—but the thought of Rose lingered quietly at the back of her mind.
One evening, George appeared at her door with a small bag of snacks and that same easy smile.
"Movie night?" he asked.
Anna hesitated for a moment, then stepped aside. "Just one movie," she said lightly.
They settled on her bed, the laptop balanced between them. As the movie played, laughter filled the room, soft and unguarded. At some point, George's arm brushed against hers. Neither of them moved away. The air between them grew warmer, heavier.
George turned toward her. "You know… I really like spending time with you," he said quietly.
Anna looked at him, her heart beating faster. "I like it too," she replied, unsure of where the words would lead.
The days that followed were filled with similar moments. Studying turned into long conversations. Conversations turned into shared silences that felt intimate. George lingered longer each time he visited, his presence slowly becoming something Anna looked forward to more than she wanted to admit.
But then there were the moments that unsettled her.
She saw George again with Rose—laughing, walking closely, their familiarity impossible to ignore. The unease she had tried to suppress resurfaced. This time, she couldn't ignore it.
When George visited later that evening, Anna didn't smile right away.
"George," she said carefully, "I need to ask you something."
He raised an eyebrow. "What is it?"
"I keep seeing you with Rose," she said. "You're always together. Are you sure you're being honest with me?"
George's expression shifted, only briefly. "I told you already," he said. "She's my sister. There's nothing more to it."
Anna searched his face, trying to read between his words. After a moment, she nodded slowly. "Okay."
The answer didn't erase her doubts completely, but it softened them enough for things to continue as they were. George stayed. They talked late into the night. When he finally left, Anna watched him disappear down the corridor, her thoughts restless.
As she closed the door behind her, Anna realized something had changed. What began as harmless companionship was turning into something complicated—something that demanded honesty, even if neither of them was ready to face it yet.
And somewhere between Room 119 and Room 121, the truth waited.