"A Glimmer of Vulnerability"

Mina's eyes searched mine, her expression a mix of concern and curiosity. I could see the questions burning in her mind, but she didn't voice them. Instead, she waited for me to break the silence. I took a deep breath, trying to gather my thoughts. But the words that came out were not what I had planned. "I basically confessed I wanna crawl into a hole then die," I said, my voice barely above a whisper. As I spoke, I felt a lump form in my throat, and my eyes began to well up with tears. Mina's expression softened, and she reached out to gently brush a strand of hair behind my ear. "Vesper, that's not what you said," she said, her voice gentle. "You were trying to explain something, and we appreciate that." But I shook my head, feeling a wave of shame wash over me. "No, Mina, I was being honest. I'm just... I'm so tired of being a burden. I'm tired of being seen as broken or damaged. I just want to be normal, to be like everyone else." Mina's eyes filled with compassion, and she pulled me into a gentle hug. "Vesper, you're not a burden," she whispered. "You're one of us, and we care about you no matter what." But even as she spoke, I could see the uncertainty in her eyes. She didn't understand me, not fully. And I couldn't blame her. I didn't understand myself, not anymore. As the tears began to fall, Mina held me close, her touch a comforting balm to my battered soul. But even as I felt a sense of peace wash over me, I knew that I still had a long way to go. I had to confront the darkness within me, to face the fears and doubts that had been plaguing me for so long. And I wasn't sure if I was ready to do that. But with Mina by my side, I felt a glimmer of hope. Maybe, just maybe, I could find a way to heal, to learn to accept myself for who I was, flaws and all.