"Do you even know what you're doing?" The voice broke through the silence like a whip, sharp and unforgiving.
Alex flinched, their fingers tightening around the edges of the book as they sat hunched over it on the floor. The words on the pages seemed to blur together under the dim light of the lamp, refusing to reveal their secrets.
"I'm trying..." Alex's voice cracked, betraying their frustration. They hadn't slept properly in days. Every time they closed their eyes, the darkness felt like it was crawling into their skin, threatening to pull them under.
"Trying isn't good enough!" Sarah's voice trembled, more from fear than anger. "Do you realize what's happening to you? You're slipping away, Alex. You're not the same anymore!"
