She falls on the floor, the past playing with her head again. It happens every night, but of course no one knows. She doesn't want them to, not even her dear older brother. It would hurt him to know the truth to all the lies she's been telling the world. "I'm happy." "I'm fine." "It's okay." But deep down, she knows it's not. It's never been okay. The awful memories of long ago still torture her endlessly, but she just fades into the faces and pretends that everything will be okay.

But her act doesn't last long. He notices something wrong, something different in her eyes than in her smile. He sees the hurt. He sees the scars and the pain that no one else cares to notice. He knows.

She soon discovers with bursting joy that he is different. A good different. He truly cares for her. He takes her to a place like no other, where all of the pain just falls away. Her paradise. I'm happy. I'm fine. It's okay. She doesn't have to pretend anymore.

❤