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“Yes.” I clutch my trembling hands together, the cut on my hand stinging. I’m out.

“That stupid door, seriously. I told the professor so many times already.” She lets out a laugh. “You don’t wanna know how many times I’ve been already stuck in there.”

“Thank you.”

“I’m Gemma, by the way.” She smiles, eyes kind. “You’re lucky I only went to get a soda.”

She looks familiar somehow.

“I’m Lil. Thanks again. For getting me out of there.”

“No problem.” She helps me to my feet. Her eyes flick to my trembling hands. “Shit. What happened? Sit down. I’ll get the first aid kit.”

“You don’t have to do that.” She’s already done more than enough.

“Come on. I won’t take no for an answer.” Gemma sits me down and rummages through a shelf, emerging with a first aid kit. She’s wearing this cute floral dress paired with a denim jacket.

There’s an openness to her, a genuine friendliness that puts me at ease despite the lingering tremors from my panic attack. I’m not used to people helping me like this, especially not strangers. Usually, I deal with everything on my own.

She takes the seat beside me and takes my hand in hers, examining the cut. “How did you even manage to cut yourself so badly?” Her blonde hair falls in soft waves around her face,and her green eyes are filled with concern. She’s pretty. “You’re as clumsy as me, huh?”

“I should probably stick to the library. At least there, I don’t cut myself.” I stare at the blood welling on my finger, transfixed.

“I don’t know about that. You could cut yourself on the paper. Mary did, just lately, when she had one of her late-night study sessions. Anyway, so what happened?”

“I was fumbling around in the dark. My phone fell, and I scrambled to grab it.” I wince as she dabs antiseptic on my cuts. “I didn’t see anything, and then I cut myself.”

“Unlucky.” She wraps a bandage around my hand. “Darkness can be scary. As a kid, I always needed a little light to sleep, and my brother always made sure it was on. Sometimes, he even slept beside me on the floor when I had nightmares.” Her giggling fills the room.

“That sounds nice.”

“Do you have a brother?”

“Yeah, well… Two. Though, they’re not my real brothers. It’s kind of complicated.”

“How so?”

“After my parents died, my uncle took me in. Levi and Lan, my two brothers, are his adoptive sons.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be. It has been a long time.”

“When was it?”

“I was ten, but I don’t remember much from back then. So, it’s okay.”

Her eyes dart around. “Mhm.. So, Lan and Levi. They’re your cousins?”

“Yes, but we grew up together. So they’re more like brothers.”

“I see.” Gemma nods, securing the bandage over the last cut.

“Do you have other siblings?”

“No, just my brother.”

She surveys her handiwork. “There. Good as new. Well, almost.”

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