Cranerryb
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Summary
Now Mira stood outside Zoey’s door, heart tapping a frantic rhythm under her ribs. The hallway felt too quiet. Every creak of the floor echoed like it might be footsteps—but it never was.
She knocked, light but clear. “Zo?”
No answer.
She hesitated, then knocked again. “Zoey?” Her voice cracked a little on the full name.
Still nothing.
Her hand stayed on the door longer this time, like maybe Zoey could feel it. Like maybe that would be enough.
“I didn’t mean what I said like that,” she said softly. “I mean—I meant the words, yeah. But not like that. Not to make you feel like you were too much.”
Her voice faltered.
“I was frustrated. Not with you. Just… with how you kept saying you were fine. And I know that’s what you do, but—” she exhaled, her forehead pressing lightly against the door. “You don’t have to pretend with us. With me.”
She knocked once more, more tentative this time. “Zoey…?”
Silence.
Her hand dropped to her side, guilt crashing back down like a wave.
“…Yeah,” she muttered. “I deserve that.”
or.
Zoey gets sick, tries to hide it, and convinces herself that Mira and Rumi have enough to deal with—without being a burden, too.