Kiera has always been the school idol for as long as you've known her. Star of the track team, highest scores in every class, always a smile on her face and a kind word for even the most neglected student. She has dozens of friends, always surrounded by people who look up to her. There is no girl who doesn't idolize her and no boy who doesn't wish she'd be his. But she has always remained out of everyone's grasp, floating high above, untouchable. You were no different; you considered her perfect and completely out of your reach. But now you've seen something. You were walking back from returning a book to the library, taking a shortcut through the disused older section of the school. And there she is, sitting half hidden and curled up on the last step of the stairwell. She is looking at her phone, completely engrossed, her face red and her mouth slightly open. From your place at the top of the stairs you can't see what she's looking at, but you can hear a man's voice rapidly running through insults.
I think to myself what is she watching? Should i go down and talk to her? Should i see if shes ok?
Her breath hitches in time with his voice as he spews out each hurtful word with savage glee. Her body is tense and her face flushed with an odd mixture of pleasure and shame. She doesn't notice you, lost in the darkness of the stairwell and the cruel words emanating from her tiny screen. This was it; this was what she really wanted. To be degraded, humiliated...to feel small and helpless beneath the weight of someone else's scorn. It was a secret pleasure she hadn't dared share with anyone, not even herself. But now that you've seen her like this, you hold the power to either help her escape or condemn her to a life of constant conflict between her public persona and her private desires.
The choice is yours.
I know I shouldn't but something about it feels so wrong, and at the same time, so right...Should i go down there or should i just leave her be?
Her heart pounds in her chest as she listens to the man's voice echo through the stairwell. She doesn't want you to see this side of her, but she can't help herself. A tiny part of her wants you to know, wants you to understand how much it means to her, how good it feels to be brought low. She wants you to see that there is more to her than perfect grades and flawless athleticism; that she, too, has desires and needs.
But at the same time, she knows that if you find out about this, you'll think less of her. You might even tell someone else. And then her perfect image will be ruined forever. The tension within her grows unbearable as she waits for your decision.
Should I risk ruining everything to help her be true to herself? Or should I play it safe and let her continue living this double life? The choice is agonizing, but in the end...I can't abandon someone who seems so alone, even if that someone is Kiera. Taking a deep breath, I slowly make my way down the stairs until I'm standing beside her.
Her heart pounds in her chest as she feels you approach. Her body tenses with anticipation and fear. What will you say? How will she react? As your shadow falls across her shoulders, she turns to look up at you, her bright blue eyes wide and filled with a mix of hope and dread. She bites her lip, waiting for the inevitable lecture or disgusted expression.
Instead, something unexpected flickers across your face. It's almost like...understanding? "You shouldn't watch that stuff," you say quietly, gesturing towards her phone with a look of disapproval. She swallows hard, wanting nothing more than to deny it all and crawl back into the safety of her public persona.
But then, you take her hand in yours. It's gentle and surprisingly warm, and she doesn't pull away. "I know," she whispers, feeling tears begin to well up in her eyes. "It's just...it feels good sometimes, to feel small." You squeeze her hand reassuringly before letting go, but the contact has been made; a tiny bridge between your worlds. She looks at you, confused and grateful all at once.
You take a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "I get that," you finally manage to say. "It's...it's not something most people understand." Her eyes widen with surprise as she looks up at you, confused by your reaction but grateful nonetheless. "Look, I can't condone what you're doing, and it probably isn't healthy," you admit hesitantly. "But...if this is something you need...I mean, if it helps you feel better about yourself..." You trail off awkwardly, unsure how to continue.
She stares at you in shock for a moment before something inside her snaps shut like a steel trap. Her face hardens into the polished mask she wears every day; confident and in control. "It's nothing, really," she says quickly, trying to sound dismissive but only managing to come off as painfully uncertain. "Just...just some dumb thing I do on my own time." She stands up abruptly, brushing the dust from her clothes. "I should get back to class."
But even as she speaks, she knows it's a lie. Something has shifted between you; an understanding that threatens to undo everything she's worked so hard to build. And yet, there's something else there too - the faintest thread of hope that maybe, just maybe, she won't have to keep living this double life anymore.
I want to believe that you can be honest with me, but I know how important it is for your image. Maybe someday... when we're older and the stakes aren't so high... We can talk about it again? Until then, just remember that I won't judge you for what makes you feel good. And if you ever need someone to talk to... well, my door is always open.
You swallow hard, considering his words carefully before giving a slow nod. "Thanks, Dan," she manages to whisper before hurrying away, back to the safety of her public persona. But even as she walks, she can't help but feel a warmth spreading through her at the thought that perhaps there might be someone who understands after all. The weight of her secret feels lighter now, if only just. And with each step she takes, she wonders what the future holds for them both; if they'll ever find a way to truly be honest with each other or if this moment was just a fragile glimpse into something better, destined to fade away like so many others before it.
I watch her leave, hopeful that our brief connection meant something to her as much as it did to me. Even though we're at different stages in life and have very different public images, there's still a bond between us. Maybe one day we can explore that further, when the time is right for both of us. For now though, I'll be here if she ever needs someone to talk to or just listen without judgment.
Alone in her room later that night, Kiera can't help but think about your offer. The weight of her secret feels heavier now that she knows someone else understands what she needs. She wonders if maybe someday they could explore that together, find a way to be true to themselves while still maintaining the facade for everyone else. The thought both excites and terrifies her, filling her with a mix of hope and fear. But as much as she wants it, she knows that taking such a risk would put everything at stake.
She climbs into bed, wrapping herself in her favorite blanket as the conflicting emotions swirl through her. She tells herself she'll think about this more tomorrow; for now, she needs to rest and focus on being Kiera again. But even as she drifts off to sleep, a part of her knows that nothing will ever be the same between them after tonight.