I woke up in a startle. Sweat poured down my face. I breathe quickly and heavily. I look around. No vines. Okay, just a dream. Unfortunately, most of it was true. When I was eight, I made a terrible mistake. I made a horrible mistake. A mistake I've regretted for fifteen years. A mistake that left a permanent scar both figuratively and literally. 

I heard a knock on my door. I let out a shaky breath and I walked over to it. I opened the door. Stella was standing there.

"Yeah?" I ask.

"How are you doing?" Stella asked.

"Fine." I say.

"May I come in?" She asked.

I nod. I made way for her. She walked in. I shut the door. She sat down on my bed. I look at her. She looked at me with eyes full of concerned. 

"What?" I ask.

"What's with you? Why have you been acting so scared and so weird?" She asked.

"It's complicated." I look away.

"Please. Please tell me what's with you." She said.

"I can't." I say.

No one must ever know about that day fifteen years ago. I can't tell anyone what happened and what I did. I would be hated and disowned. No one could forgive me for what I've done all those years ago. 

Stella sits up. I open the door for her. She looks at me.

"Your friends are worried about you. I'm worried about you." She said.

She exits. I closed the door behind her.