Zara sat on the balcony, teeth chattering as the cold December air bit at her skin. The temperature had dipped drastically, the dry cold wrapping itself around her like an unforgiving embrace. She tucked her knees close to her chest, curling herself into as small a shape as possible, trying to shield herself from the icy night.
The bitter chill seeped through her thin clothes, and she wished she'd at least grabbed her coat before stepping out here. But it was all inside, alongside her dead phone, her power bank, and anything else that could be of use. She didn't want to wake anyone this late, but the longer she sat out here, the harder it became to ignore how bleak her situation really was.
The discomfort stirred something familiar deep within her, tugging at memories she'd buried long ago. She closed her eyes against the wind, and an image of her younger self flickered before her mind's eye: a girl, feeling just as helpless and alone. Back then, she'd been just as cold, not just from the weather but from the absence of warmth in her life, from the crushing weight of a loneliness no child should ever have to bear. She'd been this close to giving up, not knowing where to turn, not having anyone she could really call out to for help.
A sad, mocking smile tugged at the corner of her mouth as she glanced at her surroundings. Even now, with all her wealth and success, a single mistake had left her in a vulnerable position, just like back then. Some things never changed.
Taking a shaky breath, she pressed her forehead against her knees, closing herself off from the bitter night as best she could. She could survive this. She'd survived worse. The cold might gnaw at her bones, but she was strong. She always had been.
As the minutes dragged on, Zara's shivers grew more intense, her breaths shallow as she huddled tighter, fighting against the creeping numbness. But deep down, she knew she'd get through it, like she always did.