Never show weakness, never show how badly things were getting to you. Do it in private, away from eyes and ears. Pretend that it had never happened. That you were unaffected by whatever happened around you. Time and time again. Internally cursing everything above about why it was always them and never you. All in the name of some kind of peace that hopefully would be permanent.

She remains quiet for the longest moment, mulling it over. Which was it? "Let's just say that I'm starting to understand why people drink to excess. But perhaps it would be best to not be here for much longer."