Braving the Water

Hazel’s Pov

The night had felt cooler than usual, the kind of calm that pressed gently against my skin and made me breathe a little slower. I stepped outside toward the pool, hoping the quiet would drown out the noise in my head. The moment the door clicked shut behind me, the world softened—like even the air was trying to comfort me.

Moonlight spilled over the water in trembling lines, turning t