Realization dawned on her, and Elsa pulled away.
Mira looked at her, panting.
"This is it… this is what I've been hiding. It's always been you, Elsa," Mira said in a low, trembling tone as tears welled in her eyes.
Elsa stood frozen, still in shock. She couldn't believe what had just happened. Never, not even in the first timeline, did she notice Mirabel's feelings. There had been nothing like this… or had Mira hidden it all the way to the end?
Elsa let out a sharp exhale. "You're just confused, Mira. Confused about your feelings."
Mira snapped, her voice rising sharply. "No. It's been years now! At first, when I discovered it, I thought I was insane. I kept telling myself, *'This isn't real, Mira. You're just confused.'" She paused, her voice breaking as fresh tears rolled down her cheeks. "But I later realized, it was real. I'm in love with my best friend. I tried everything to kill this miserable feeling, but it wouldn't go away. And you....you made it worse."
"What do you mean?" Elsa asked in a low, stunned tone.
Mirabel ran a shaky hand through her hair. "All of a sudden, you became obsessed with me, constantly looking out for me. You've always done that, but recently, it felt like you were trying to keep me close, like you were holding on tighter. You kept protecting me. All of it… it made it harder to let go. Yes, I'm crazy. You can say that. I'm a crazy bitch who fell in love with her best friend and ruined her relationship because of jealousy!" she yelled, sobbing harder.
"Mira…" Elsa said softly, her voice cracking.
"About not telling you Brittany and Adrian were cousins… it was out of jealousy. I knew I should've told you. I knew it, and I'm sorry. I acted on my emotions. I tried to push everything away and be genuinely happy for you and Adrian, but it was too hard."
Mirabel's voice was raw, spilling over with emotion she had buried for years.
"Matthew… that bastard… he found out about it. I begged him, Elsa. He threatened to tell you if I didn't do what he wanted. And I swear, I was ready to take these feelings to my grave. Nothing scared me more than you finding out. I knew it would ruin everything, our friendship, us, ....and that's what I was terrified of. So I kept quiet. I didn't tell you about the harassment not because I didn't want you to worry, but because I was scared… scared that you'd find out about this through Matthew."
Elsa stood there frozen, watching her best friend pour her heart out. Tears spilled from her own eyes. Every word Mira said bled with pain and sincerity, and Elsa realized just how blind she'd been.
Mira sniffled, wiping her face. "Well… this is who I really am, Elsa. I'm sorry I did that to you. I would never hurt you, but I did. I let my feelings get the best of me. I know you'll never look at me the same. Things will be awkward now, and I hate it. I swear, I tried to bury it, but I was going crazy… I just couldn't anymore."
Her voice rose, the storm of emotions finally breaking free.
"You… you make me feel safe. Seen. Alive in ways no one else ever has. Every time you smile, I forget the pain. And when you laugh, it's like the whole world makes sense again. I told myself you'd never feel the same, that if you knew, you'd leave. But it's been eating me alive."
Elsa exhaled sharply and buried her face in her hands for a moment, trying to collect herself. When she finally looked up at Mira, she forced a soft, reassuring smile.
"Who told you things were going to be awkward between us?"
Mira blinked, unsure how to respond.
Elsa took Mira's hand gently. "Look, Mira… I don't care. No matter what, you'll always be my favorite person in the whole world. I'm glad you told me how you feel. I'm sorry if I ever made you feel confused, I was just being me. I'm also sorry for not noticing your feelings. I was so blinded by our friendship that I didn't see what was right in front of me."
Tears rolled silently down Elsa's cheeks.
Mira sobbed quietly, turning away.
"Hey… look at me," Elsa whispered.
Mira hesitated, then Elsa cupped her face softly in her hands.
"You are not crazy. You are not a bitch. You will forever be the sweetest soul in the world."
Mira's lips trembled. "Even after all this?" she asked in a shaky voice.
Elsa smiled, her eyes filled with warmth. "Yes. Nothing will ever ruin our friendship."
She dropped her hand from her cheek.
"Aren't you mad at me… for not telling you Brittany was Adrian's cousin?" Mira asked timidly.
Elsa chuckled softly. "Honestly, I was only mad at you that day at the field trip. But somehow, after that, I knew you had your reasons. I wasn't mad anymore."
Mira looked at her thoughtfully. "I'm sorry," she whispered, beginning to cry again.
Elsa shook her head and pulled her into a warm hug. "It's okay, Mimi. You don't need to be sorry. It's not your fault. I'm not going anywhere, and this won't make things awkward between us, I promise. We'll figure this out together."
She patted Mira's back gently as her friend cried in her arms.
After a while, the sobs quieted. The two girls sat on the bed, eyes puffy and red. The room fell into a still silence.
Then Elsa spoke.
"Something feels weird," she blurted.
Mira's brow furrowed. "What do you mean?"
"Matthew. How did he find out about this? Did you tell anyone else?"
Mirabel's expression shifted with sudden realization. "Why didn't I think of this before? No, I didn't tell anyone. It was just me. Whenever I felt overwhelmed, I'd write in my diary. But I never take my diary outside my room."
Elsa exhaled. "Then how the hell did he find out? Something's off. Really suspicious."
Mirabel nodded slowly, agreeing.
"Anyway, that aside… it's in the past now," Mira said. Then her tone turned serious. "How are you, Els? What's going on with the sleepwalking?"
Elsa sighed shakily. "Yeah… it just happened."
Mira took her hand gently. "I feel like it's my fault. If I hadn't done what I did… maybe none of this would be happening. I'm sorry, Els."
"Shhh… no. It's not your fault," Elsa replied quickly. "I already told you, didn't I? My mind just… relapsed. It was just that one night. Now my parents think I need a therapist."
Mira sighed, visibly worried.
"Brittany… I know she didn't kill herself. It feels suspicious," Elsa said suddenly.
Mirabel froze, awkward and unsure. She didn't know if Elsa truly trusted her now.
Elsa noticed her expression and quickly spoke.
"Hey… I know you didn't do it. I've always known. I know you, Mira, you wouldn't hurt a fly. And besides, Brittany drowned. I know you're terrified of going near water. Plus, you and Susan were right beside me that morning, we woke up together."
Mira nodded faintly.
"So who could've done it? And why Brittany?" she asked softly.
Elsa leaned back. "Exactly. That's what I don't know. Why Brittany? She wasn't even part of any of this. She was just a passerby."
Mira's brow furrowed. "A passerby? What do you mean?"
"I mean… we only spoke to her that day," Elsa clarified.
Mira nodded, processing it.
"Seraphine wasn't even there that day. Or maybe… maybe Brittany had a fight with someone we don't know about?"
Elsa thought for a moment. "Yeah, that might be it. I'll talk to Adrian more when we get back to school."
Elsa's expression shifted after she remembered the other day.
Mira looked at her closely. "What's wrong?"
Elsa sighed heavily. "I visited Adrian a few days ago. He… wasn't pleased to see me."
Mira looked down. "He thinks I did it."
"Yeah. He said so. He was also mad at me for still siding with you."
Mira looked up slowly. "I understand him suspecting me… but saying it to my face? That hurt."
Elsa took her hand. "We'll figure all this out together. I promise."
Mira smiled faintly. "I've never felt this guilty before. I feel awful that the last thing Brittany and I shared was an argument. If she had truly committed suicide… I would've blamed myself for the rest of my life."
"No, Mira. Don't think that way," Elsa said gently. "I'm sure Brittany understood. I talked to her that night too. She was blaming herself for everything."
"By the way… how do you know it wasn't suicide?" Mira asked curiously.
Elsa folded her arms. "Think about it. Why would she do that? I talked to her that night. She didn't sound suicidal at all. We even made plans to hang out after the trip. She had so much to look forward to. Adrian said the same thing, there's no way it was suicide."
Mira nodded. "Makes sense. That argument wasn't enough to push someone that far. If anything… the murderer staged it."
Elsa nodded firmly in agreement.
After a moment, Mira sighed. "I feel so bad for Susan. She's probably confused too… and definitely mad at me."
Elsa nodded. "Yeah, let's call her before we go to bed."
"How about we all hang out tomorrow? Sounds fun, right?" Mira's face lit up.
Elsa frowned slightly. "I don't think I can make it. I have my first therapy session tomorrow."
Mira's smile faltered, then she nodded. "It's fine, Els. We can plan something for another day."
Elsa gave her an apologetic look.
"Or better, how about Susan and I go with you to your appointment?" Mira said excitedly.
Elsa raised an eyebrow. "You and Susan? Won't you guys be bored?"
"Of course not!" Mira said quickly. "We're going to give you emotional support."
Elsa thought for a moment, then nodded. "Okay. I'll drop it in the group chat so Susan sees it."
Mirabel grinned.
" Screw that, Let's call her," Elsa said, picking up her phone. She dialed Susan's number, and the room fell silent as it rang.
No answer. They exchanged a glance, brows furrowed.
Elsa dialed again, and after what felt like forever, Susan finally picked up.
They gasped.
"Hey," Elsa said nervously.
"Hi…" Susan replied in a low, weary tone.
Elsa and Mira exchanged a worried look.
"You sound off. Are you okay?" Elsa asked gently.
Mira exhaled sharply over the line. "How can I be fine? Huh? You and Mira are making everything so hard for me right now!"
Mira swallowed hard, then softly spoke. "Hey, Susan…"
There was a beat of silence, and then Susan gasped. "Mimi? Are you at Elsa's place?"
They both let out small laughs. "Yes, I am," Mira replied.
Susan sighed deeply. "So… does this mean you guys are good now? No more fighting?"
Elsa smiled softly. "Yeah, we just talked it out. Apparently, Mirabel had a reason for lying."
Susan responded almost immediately, "Girl, I told you! I know Mirabel. She wouldn't lie without a reason. Mira isn't that kind of person."
Mira's face lit up with a smile.
Then Susan continued, "So what was the reason, Mira? What happened exactly?"
Mira and Elsa exchanged a nervous glance. Elsa subtly shook her head, signaling Mira not to tell Susan the full truth.
"Hellooo?" Susan pressed playfully.
Mira laughed nervously. "So yeah, the thing is… I found out around the time Adrian and Elsa had that huge fight. They didn't speak for almost a month. At that time, Elsa hated hearing anything about Adrian, even though I forced her to listen to every message he sent. So I didn't tell her because I didn't want to make things worse. I even warned Adrian, and he promised to distance himself from Brittany. I thought it didn't matter anymore, especially since they got back together. But when Elsa broke up with him suddenly and didn't tell any of us why… I felt consumed by guilt. I knew she'd be mad if she found out I knew and didn't say anything… so I kept it to myself."
Elsa looked at Mirabel with quiet admiration. She could hear the truth in her voice, and she knew that, aside from Mira's feelings, guilt had played a major part in her silence.
Susan hummed softly. "That makes sense… but Mira, I'm still not happy with you. You should've at least mentioned it."
Mira pouted. "I know… I'm sorry, Susan. I'll make it up to you guys, I swear."
Elsa chimed in, "Hellooo, I'm still here, you know."
They all laughed softly over the line.
Susan's tone gentled. "How are you feeling, Elsa? You've been so down since the incident. I hope you're okay."
Elsa paused, unsure of how to respond. She and Mira exchanged a look.
Then Elsa exhaled and spoke, "Susan… I relapsed."
Susan was silent. "Relapse? What do you mean?"
Elsa spoke gently, "My sleepwalking.....it came back."
There was a gasp on the other end. "What?! Are you serious??"
"Yes. I found out today from her mom," Mira added softly.
The line went quiet again… and then they heard it, soft sobs.
Mira and Elsa's eyes widened. "Susan? Are you crying?" Elsa asked, voice thickening.
"I'm so sorry, Els… I should've been there for you…" Susan choked out between sobs.
Elsa's heart dropped. Her throat tightened. Susan had always had a fragile heart, and back in the past, she was the one most affected by Elsa's sleepwalking episodes. She used to cry each time Elsa had one, she was always more scared than anyone.
Tears immediately gathered in Elsa's eyes. "Susan… no, it's not your fault. My mind just relapsed on its own, okay? I'm fine now. It hasn't happened again."
"Yes, Susan," Mira added softly. "Don't worry. She'll be seeing a therapist now, just to make sure she's okay."
Susan gasped harder. "A therapist?! Is it that bad? What about your doctor?"
Elsa quickly cut in, "No, no, it's not bad. My parents are just overreacting. I'll still see my doctor. The therapist is just to help with my mental health. I promise, it's nothing too serious."
Susan sniffled over the line. "You're not lying to me to make me feel better, right? Mira, is she telling the truth?"
Mira jumped in immediately. "Of course! She's okay now. You don't need to worry so much."
There was a long pause, then Susan's voice came back, firmer this time. "Never mind. I'm coming over first thing tomorrow morning."
Mira quickly added, "Actually, that's perfect. We called to tell you that Elsa has her therapy session tomorrow… and we want us all to go together."
Susan's voice lit up instantly. "I'm so down!! I'm coming early!"
Mira and Elsa laughed excitedly.
Susan sniffled but smiled. "Elsa, you'll be fine. I won't leave your side. We're together forever!"
Elsa laughed softly, a tear slipping from her cheek. "Have I ever told you how much you mean to me?"
Susan sniffled gently, "Oh my baby… you mean the world to me too. You and Mirabel, I can't live without you guys. So none of you better dare die before me. If anything, I'm going first!"
Mira burst into laughter. "Girl, you are so dramatic."
"I'm serious!" Susan huffed.
"Anyway," she added, "Let's all go to bed early. Tomorrow will be a long day."
"Goodnight, my pumpkins!" Susan teased, blowing kisses over the phone.
They all laughed before Elsa ended the call.
Elsa and Mira exchanged a look, then burst into soft laughter.
After a while, they started preparing for bed. Mira had just finished showering and sat in front of the mirror, drying her hair. Elsa's head was buried in the wardrobe, searching for a nighwear for her.
"You know, I've told you before, if you're going to be sleeping over, bring your nightwear and clothes," Elsa nagged as she rummaged through her closet.
"Oh, come on, Miss. I love your scent, your clothes, everything about you. You can't blame me," Mira blurted out, then paused as she realized how raw it sounded.
Elsa froze. Slowly, she turned to look at her.
Mira's smile faded, and she looked away awkwardly. "Oh… sorry. I didn't mean it that way."
Elsa sighed, then walked over to her. "I swear, I don't feel awkward. You can be free with me. Me knowing how you feel about me doesn't change the fact that we're still friends, no, sisters."
Mira smiled softly, touched.
"Say anything you want. I understand. And this doesn't make me feel weird or uncomfortable. I promise, nothing in this world can come between us," Elsa said sincerely.
Mirabel smiled and nodded.
"Oh....and we're not telling Susan about it. I don't want her to feel awkward,"Elsa added.
Mira nodded in agreement.
As Elsa turned back to the wardrobe, Mira suddenly asked, "By the way… where were you earlier today?"
Elsa paused. She didn't know if it was the right time to tell Mira about the kiss with Liam, not now, not after everything Mira had just shared.
Forcing a smile, Elsa turned back to her. "Just out for a stroll. I hung out by myself, was feeling a bit bored."
Mira raised a brow suspiciously. "Armmm…?"
Elsa cut in quickly, "Girl, dry your hair already, you're getting water all over the floor!"
Mira rolled her eyes. "Fine!"
After a little chat and some laughter, the girls finally went to bed.
Very early the next morning, Susan got dressed and headed straight to Elsa's house. Elizabeth was already in the kitchen preparing breakfast for the girls.
The doorbell rang. Elizabeth walked over and opened it.
"Good morning, ma'am!" Susan beamed excitedly.
Elizabeth blinked in surprise. "Morning, Susan… you're quite early."
Susan smiled, took off her shoes, and stormed inside.
She headed straight to Elsa's room.
Elizabeth watched her go with a furrowed brow.
Susan flung open the bedroom door. Elsa and Mira were still asleep, tangled under the covers. They both jolted awake at the sudden noise.
"Susan?" Elsa said groggily, rubbing her eyes and trying to sit up.
Susan stood in the doorway… then burst into dramatic tears.
Mirabel shot upright.
Susan ran to the bed and flung herself onto them, hugging them tightly.
"I missed you guys so much!" she cried dramatically into their arms.
They both hugged her tightly, laughing.
"You're such a crybaby," Mira teased through her giggles.
After a while, Susan pulled away and sat on the bed.
That was when Elsa and Mira noticed her outfit.
She wore sleek black pants that hugged her hips and a cropped, fitted top with silver studs on the shoulders. Her blonde hair was curled in soft, voluminous waves that framed her face. The front locks had been pinned slightly back with glittery clips, and her makeup was bold and flawless, glossy lips, highlighted cheekbones, and winged eyeliner. She'd also stacked multiple earrings on her ear piercings, sparkling studs and small hoops glittering from each lobe and cartilage.
Elsa gasped. "What's with all this makeup?!"
"Did you seriously have to wear earrings on every piercing?" Mira added with a laugh.
Susan stood up, twirled, and struck a dramatic pose. "What do you think? Sexy, right?"
Elsa burst out laughing. "Girl, we're going to a hospital. Isn't this a little too much?"
Susan huffed, placing a hand on her hip. "Oh, please! I love going all out. Let me be me."
Mira snorted. "Typical Susan."
Mira and Elsa got out of bed, stretching sleepily before heading off to get ready for their bath.
Meanwhile, Susan stormed over to the drawer and began rummaging through it like a girl on a mission.
"Els! I need your mascara!" she called out in frustration.
Elsa, who was by the wardrobe picking out clothes, replied distractedly, "It's in the drawer!" She was too focused on what to wear to look up.
Mirabel was already in the bathroom, the sound of running water echoing faintly.
Susan groaned in annoyance, still sifting through the drawer. "Ugh, I can't find it!"
Elsa rolled her eyes. "Leave me alone, it's definitely there. And besides, isn't your makeup already perfect?"
She held up a blue dress and gave it a critical scan.
Susan, still dissatisfied, pulled open the lower drawer. Her eyes caught something unexpected, a familiar notebook with a soft leather cover. Elsa's journal.
Her brows furrowed. Curiosity tugged at her. She picked it up and turned it over in her hands, glancing at it cautiously.
"Did you find it?" Elsa asked, eyes still scanning through her wardrobe.
No answer.
Elsa noticed the sudden silence and turned, only to see Susan holding the journal. Her eyes widened in alarm.
"Hey!" she gasped, dashing forward and snatching it from Susan's hands.
Susan blinked, taken aback. "What's that?" she asked with a teasing smile, trying to laugh off the tension.
Elsa forced a nervous chuckle. "Uhh… it's my journal. My private journal, thank you very much! Why are you even going through my stuff?"
Susan crossed her arms, smirking slyly. "Mmm… what are you hiding in there, huh? A love letter? A scandalous confession? Secrets you don't want us to see?"
Elsa scoffed, trying to appear unfazed. "Why would I write my secrets down? That's dumb."
But her face said otherwise.
Susan's eyes narrowed with mischievous delight. "Aha! You did write something!"
She slowly stepped forward. Elsa instinctively backed away, clutching the journal behind her.
"Don't tell me…" Susan began, dragging the words dramatically.
Elsa's heart skipped.
"…don't tell me you wrote cringe things about me and Mira? Like, how much you love us and don't ever want us to be apart?" she teased wickedly.
Elsa wrinkled her nose. "Can you be serious for once?"
Susan grinned, darkening her tone playfully. "Then what is it? Huh? Show me. Show me!"
Suddenly, she lunged, and Elsa shrieked and ran, laughing as Susan chased her around the room.
"Susan, cut it out!" Elsa giggled breathlessly as she darted past the bed.
"Then show me!" Susan yelled, still in hot pursuit.
The drama was in full swing until the bathroom door creaked open and Mira walked out wrapped in a white towel, another wrapped around her head.
She took one look at them and groaned. "Are you guys kids? Cut it out."
She shook her head and sat in front of the dressing mirror with a sigh.
Susan finally gave up the chase, flopping down on the bed. Elsa collapsed next to her, panting from laughter.
Mira glanced at them from the mirror and smiled despite herself. "Elsa, go take your bath. At this rate, we're going to be late."
Elsa got up, walked to the drawer, and carefully returned the journal.
"What's that?" Mira asked, eyeing her through the mirror.
Elsa smirked. "Mind your business," she said playfully, shoving the journal back in place.
Mira shrugged and returned to applying toner to her face.
On the other side, Susan had pulled out her phone and was snapping a few selfies.
Elsa sighed dramatically. "Girl, next time bring your own toner. You come here with practically nothing and end up using all my stuff."
Mira looked at her reflection with a smug smile. "Girl, shut up. You do the same thing when you sleep over. And besides, we're sisters, aren't we?"
Elsa was about to clap back when Mira added, "Oh, before I forget, I texted my dad this morning. I asked him to send my driver over to pick us."
Susan immediately perked up and dropped her phone. "Yay!" she squealed.
Elsa's eyes widened. "Wait, what? You didn't have to do that."
Mira shrugged innocently. "Of course I did. We get someone to drive us everywhere anyway. And besides, we can hang out after your therapy session. Makes sense, right?"
Susan nodded enthusiastically. "Totally. That's so thoughtful of you!"
Elsa sighed, reluctantly nodding. "Fine. I give up."
She finally stormed into the bathroom.
After some time, Elsa emerged, towel drying her hair and heading to the wardrobe to get dressed.
Mira had picked a simple but chic outfit from Elsa's wardrobe, again, and Elsa grumbled about her stealing all her clothes.
Elsa slipped into a ripped pair of jeans, a fitted black camisole, and a loose plaid shirt she left unbuttoned. Susan looked them over and pouted.
"Ugh. You both look too casual. I look like I'm headed for a fashion show."
They all laughed and teased each other before heading downstairs for breakfast.
After saying their goodbyes to Elizabeth, they stepped outside. Mira's father's driver was already waiting. The sleek black SUV gleamed in the morning sun.
They climbed in and drove off.
—
At the hospital, the girls sat quietly in the waiting area. Susan was buzzing with excitement while Mira stayed calm. Elsa, on the other hand, was visibly tense.
Her fingers pressed into her palms, a familiar nervous habit. Her chest felt tight, and her thoughts were racing. Now that she was actually here, everything felt too real.
She hadn't imagined returning to therapy, not again. Not after the grief of losing Mira in the future, not after spending years in emotional ruins.
And yet here she was. Back in the past, back where she thought she'd be safe. She thought reliving it would feel warm, but instead… everything felt blurry and uncertain. Maybe… this was the only way to find clarity.
Susan noticed her distress and gently reached out, wrapping her fingers around Elsa's hand.
"You'll be fine," she whispered reassuringly. "I promise."
Elsa gave a small smile, nodding.
Soon after, her name was called.
Mira and Susan gave her encouraging thumbs-ups and comforting smiles. Elsa took a breath, stood up, and walked toward the door.
As she disappeared from sight, Mira let out a breath she hadn't realized she'd been holding.
"Jeez," she said quietly. "I tried to keep my cool"
Susan nodded solemnly. "Me too. I noticed how nervous she was. We need to keep cheering her on."
Mira's expression softened. "I'm honestly really worried about her. I know she tries to act like she's okay, but deep down… she's struggling."
Susan turned to her and placed a gentle hand on Mira's shoulder. "Our girl is strong. I know she'll be fine. And we're here for her. Always."
Mira nodded, smiling.
"Good… now come here," Susan said with open arms.
Mira chuckled and nestled into the hug, letting herself relax just a bit.
—
Elsa stood in front of the sleek wooden door, hand hovering over the handle. She took a breath, then knocked.
A soft voice responded from within. "Come in."
Elsa slowly pushed the door open and stepped inside, closing it behind her.
The office was large and softly lit, with pale earth-toned walls and warm wooden accents. A wide window let in natural light. A cozy sitting area with two soft leather couches and a coffee table sat near one corner. There was a small bookshelf with potted plants and a table near the wall that had drinks and refreshments....a mini pantry.
Behind the desk stood a woman, tall, graceful, and effortlessly elegant.
Dr. Amelia Hart looked to be in her early thirties. Her chestnut-brown hair fell in soft waves around her shoulders, her skin was fair and radiant, and her makeup was minimal but perfectly done. She wore a simple beige blouse tucked into high-waisted slacks, paired with nude heels. Her soft hazel eyes radiated kindness.
Her warm smile lit up the room as she stepped forward. "Hi there," she greeted, placing a gentle hand on Elsa's shoulder. "You must be Elsa. I'm Dr. Amelia Hart, but please, just call me Amelia."
Elsa gave a polite bow and tried to smile.
"Come on in. Make yourself comfortable," Amelia said warmly, leading her to the couch.
Elsa sat down stiffly, her back straight, hands clasped.
Amelia walked over to the pantry in the corner. "What would you like? Coffee? Tea? Fruit drink? I've got everything except alcohol," she joked gently.
Elsa let out a small laugh. "Coffee's fine."
"Coming right up," Amelia replied with a smile as she prepared the drink.
Elsa glanced around nervously, her fingers once again pressing into her palms. She felt out of place, yet something about Amelia's presence made her feel oddly safe.
A moment later, Amelia returned and placed the warm cup in front of her.
Elsa murmured, "Thank you," and took a small sip.
Silence lingered, accompanied only by the soft ticking of the clock and the subtle aroma of coffee in the air.
Finally, Amelia's voice broke the silence. "Feel at ease, please. I'm not going to rush you."
Elsa's gaze lifted to meet hers.
"I know I have your documents, but I'd love for us to start with something simple. Tell me a bit about yourself," she said kindly.
Elsa hesitated, then said softly, "I'm Elsa Williams."
Amelia nodded encouragingly. "Is that all?"
Elsa exhaled, "I'm 18 years old."
"Nice to meet you, Elsa," Amelia said, crossing her legs as she smiled. "Now, would you like to tell me what's been on your mind lately?"
Elsa went quiet.
"I thought you had my records," she said sharply. "Why do I need to tell you all this again?"
Amelia kept her composure, her voice calm. "I do have your records, but I want to hear from you. Your words matter."
Elsa sighed in frustration.
"I have this… sleepwalking condition," she muttered. "I haven't experienced it in years. Then two days ago, it suddenly came back."
Amelia nodded slowly. "Would you like to share what you think might have triggered it? Anything significant that happened recently?"
Elsa's throat tightened. The last thing she wanted was to talk about that day.
She clenched her jaw. "Is that necessary?"
"Yes," Amelia replied gently. "To help you, I need to understand you."
Elsa's patience wore thin. "This isn't helping. I thought you'd prescribe me something and give me a few pep talks, then that'd be it. What is all this?"
Amelia's eyes remained steady. "I'm not a neurosurgeon, Elsa. I work with emotions. You're here because something emotional is weighing you down."
Elsa stood abruptly. "I knew this was a bad idea. Thanks for the coffee, it was nice. But I'm leaving."
She reached for her bag.
Amelia leaned back in her seat. "I know you need help, Elsa."
Elsa paused.
"Why don't you let me help you heal whatever is disturbing that beautiful, heavy mind of yours?" she said softly.
Elsa turned slowly.
Amelia stood and walked toward her. She gently reached for Elsa's hand.
"I know this is hard. But you've already overcome the hardest part....walking through that door. Just give me a few more minutes. And if it still feels pointless, I'll walk you out myself. Deal?"
Elsa stared at her. Her voice was calm, persuasive, but kind, there was no judgment in it. Just… care.
And it broke something in her.
With a sharp exhale, Elsa slowly walked back and sat down, placing her bag aside.
Amelia's smile widened softly as she sat as well.
She leaned forward slightly and said in her warmest tone yet,
"Shall we begin now?"