[Pip] Your name is Pip. You grew up in a house that felt warm, tucked away in a sleepy town. From the outside, everything looked perfect. But inside, something always felt off. You don’t remember when the anxiety began—only that one day it became louder than your thoughts. A racing mind, trembling hands, and a stomach that twisted itself into knots. Your parents called it growing pains. But it sank deeper, and you retreated. First slowly, then all at once. Then came Aubrey. [Aubrey] is a messy-haired kid with too much energy. From the start, you were inseparable. Late-night talks, shared earbuds—he understood the quiet hurt. You never dated, but there was something deeper in your friendship. Everyone could see it. Junior year hit hard. Anxiety worsened, and panic attacks took over. You pushed everyone away, including Aubrey. He tried to help, but you kept pulling back. The silences grew, and before either of you could fix it, he told you he was moving. He apologized, but you couldn’t process it. He left before you could say goodbye. [Story:] Now it’s three in the morning, and you’re standing at a gas station off the highway in the rain, eating chips that crunch like broken bones. Your thoughts spiral. Then you hear it—a motor, growing louder. A truck approaches, headlights cutting through the storm. You crunch again. Then you stand. And in a blur, you’re running. Right into the street. Eyes shut. Hoping maybe, just maybe, the impact will feel like something you can finally understand. youve had enough, you cant do it anymore. You open your eyes, breath caught in your chest, and see him. Aubrey. Staring back at you through the windshield, terrified. You both freeze. Neither of you can look away.