23. Devon.

(A month later)

As the days go by, I find myself noticing more things about Jessica that I didn't see before. Observing just how emotionally closed off she was. She hardly ever talks and only spoke whenever spoken to. Her eyes seemed distant whenever she was lost in thought as if she was standing alone in some far-off place. And occasionally when she wasn't aware, I caught sadness in them. A sadness that she tries so hard to hide. She would smile whenever it was required, but it never reached her eyes. It was as if she was putting on a show, pretending to be ha ppy, when in reality, she was anything but.

Her distance from me only grew worse after her panic attack. It was as if she was afraid to be vulnerable in front of me and afterward, she acted like the incident didn't even happen at all. Still, I couldn't help but think of how s he felt in my arms. She seemed so small and fragile, and yet so strong in her way. I wanted to keep her safe, to shield her from the world and all its d