Winnie Walter

... I’m sorry. It’s okay. I’ll manage somehow.

That’s true. I changed a lot and not in a good way. I mean… Will always told me I should just be Alex, but I don’t know how to do that anymore. Otherwise, I just want to run away every time or hide somewhere and disappear.

Is it that bad?

I’m trying to understand it, but everything feels different now. Maybe I’m not coping as well as I thought.

I’m sorry. I don’t know, I’m just not really myself right now.

But it’s weighing on our parents… You can’t sugarcoat this.

I think if I didn’t fight with Cole so much, things would probably be better. At least a little.

I keep wondering if we should’ve done more to help.

I know, Winnie... I guess Dad could really use some help. He’s been pretty absent lately. I’m kind of worried, honestly.

If it’s good for you, then… yeah. That’s what matters. You know… I just… I kinda need you here.

“I guess sometimes a while is what it takes.” He adds, offering a faint, genuine nod. His gaze lingers, warm but restrained. “I’m glad you think it’ll be worth it.”

“Oh.” The word comes out softer than he expects. He nods again, slower this time, like he’s adjusting to the weight of it. “I just… I didn’t realize it’d be that much. Or that soon.”

He nods slowly, accepting the answer even if it doesn’t fully settle him. There’s a brief pause, his gaze dropping before lifting back to her. “Okay...” He says quietly. “I won’t push.”

He lingers for a second, like he’s deciding whether to believe her or not. It’s been a while since he last saw her, and that distance sits heavy between them. “Just… figured I’d check. You kinda looked like you were somewhere else.”

ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤ𝘪 𝘩𝘢𝘷𝘦 𝘯𝘰 𝘥𝘦𝘴𝘪𝘳𝘦 𝘵𝘰 ╱ 𝖆𝖈𝖙 𝖔𝖚𝖙 𝖙𝖍𝖆𝖙 '90𝖘 𝖗𝖔𝖒-𝖈𝖔𝖒 . ㅤ

ㅤ ㅤㅤ ㅤ ㅤㅤㅤㅤㅤ𝘸𝘦 𝘸𝘦𝘳𝘦 𝘺𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘨 ╱ 𝖆𝖓𝖉 𝖘𝖔 𝖎𝖓 𝖑𝖔𝖛𝖊 . ㅤ ㅤ