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It was a good day.
The sounds of gravel crunching underfoot, the birds singing, and students yelling as they realised they were late to their lectures.
For Freelancer, it was a good day, you could even say it was a normal morning in the best sort of way. They was elated, nothing could go wrong, it was just a normal Tuesday morning at the Dahlia Academy for Magical Novices and-
- drip, drop.
Oh.
Drip, drop .
It’s raining.
Freelancer looked up, their carefree expression souring as they saw the heavy clouds. The rain went from a drizzle to a downpour in a matter of seconds. It was a good day. Oh well, nothing lasts forever.
They waded through the sea of students, all seeking shelter from the rain as they flooded to the sides to crowd under the meagre shelter that the courtyard awning provided. Rain used to invoke feelings of relief in Freelancer. They liked to see it as the heavens opening up to wash the world's troubles, to wipe a clean slate. Now, all they saw was the muck that it brought with it, how the water dragged mud and leaves into the drainage pipes, making them clog so that the water stagnated. How it brought back memories of him .
He was nice at first.
They all are…
…until they aren't.
“I wanted to help, but you just had to open your mouth.”
Help.
Help who?
Help with what?
Ever since they said no, enough, these questions just would not leave them alone,
“Did I do the right thing?”
That one still nagged at them, sowing seeds of doubt with every unwanted visit.
“He took advantage of your lack of knowledge. He knew you didn’t know.”
No.
They needed to do it. He hurt them, and they weren't even aware of it. He saw a gap, and he made himself at home, then he left and felt nothing. Leaving them alone with the aftermath. Leaving them to work through it, to deal with his damage. Cast aside, discarded and disregarded, used .
They were trying, for everyone around them and for themself, but it was taking time. Everything was going to be okay, everything will be fine.
Their phone pinged, yanking them out of their downward spiral, ah, it was Lovely.
@ALovelyStateofMind: Hey.
@ALovelyStateofMind: You okay?
No.
They weren't,...
… and that was fine too.