Always and forever- Matteo Riddle

A few hours later, my eyes fluttered open, but the panic hadn't left me. My chest was tight, my breathing shallow as the room came into focus. I wasn't in the common room anymore—I was in the hospital wing. The lights were dim, and the air smelled of healing potions and fresh linens. But none of it felt safe.

The weight of the nightmare, the memories, still clung to me like a suffocating blanket. My body trembled as I sat up, my hands gripping the sheets as if they were the only thing keeping me grounded.

Then I noticed them—Mattheo, Draco, Blaise, Enzo, Theo, Pansy, and Astoria—all gathered nearby, watching me anxiously. Too close.

Panic surged through me. My heart pounded violently, and suddenly, I couldn't breathe. The room blurred, my mind screaming warnings I couldn't ignore.

"Get away!" I shouted, my voice raw with fear. "Please, I don't want anyone near me!" My hands flew to my head as I curled in on myself, my body still stuck between the past and present. "Help—someone, please!"

The room fell silent, but I could feel their hesitation.

"Love, it's us," Mattheo said softly, taking the tiniest step forward.

"Don't—don't come closer!" I gasped, scooting back so fast that I nearly knocked over the bedside table. I felt trapped. My skin burned where it had been touched, the sensation from my nightmare lingering like a brand.

Draco exhaled sharply. "She's still in fight mode."

"We need to calm her down," Astoria whispered, concern laced in her voice.

But I wasn't calming down. My hands shook violently, my magic buzzing under my skin like a live wire. I felt sick. My stomach churned, and my head pounded. I just wanted to be alone. I wanted the fear to stop.

"Please," I begged, my voice breaking, my eyes darting between them. "Please, just go."

Everyone hesitated. I could see it in their eyes—the worry, the frustration, the helplessness. But they didn't understand. They weren't the ones trapped in memories they couldn't escape.

Mattheo's hands clenched at his sides, his jaw tight. He wanted to help. I knew he did. But right now, I didn't need help—I needed space.

Draco was the first to move, grabbing Theo and Blaise by the arms and nodding toward the door. "Come on, let's give her some air."

Pansy and Astoria followed, whispering to each other as they disappeared through the doorway.

But Mattheo stayed.

I squeezed my eyes shut. "Mattheo, please," I choked out, barely able to breathe.

"I'm not leaving you like this," he said firmly.

Tears burned in my eyes, frustration mixing with the fear still clawing at my chest. "You have to."

His face was set in determination, but after a long pause, he sighed and took a step back. "Fine," he muttered. "But I'll be right outside."

I barely nodded, just enough to make him go. And once the door shut, I finally exhaled, my body still shaking.

I was alone. But it didn't feel like enough. The panic still clung to me, and my magic crackled beneath my skin, itching for a release.

I pulled my knees to my chest and buried my face in them, trying to steady my breathing. Trying to remind myself that I was here. I was safe. I wasn't trapped anymore.

But the silence wasn't comforting. It was suffocating.

After making everyone leave, the silence of the hospital wing settled around me like a heavy weight. The dim candlelight flickered against the stone walls, casting long shadows that seemed to stretch toward me. My body trembled as I curled into myself, my hands gripping the blanket as if it could somehow anchor me.