Chapter 21

As I settled in to watch a sci-fi movie, my attention was abruptly pulled away by Cassandra, who had begun to shiver uncontrollably. Worried, I approached her and realized that she was lost in a terrifying flashback, trembling with fear. My heart raced in my chest as I held her close, trying to comfort her in any way I could. Her eyes slowly opened and met mine, and I saw relief flood over her as she clung to me gratefully.

I let out a deep breath that I hadn't realized I had been holding, relieved that Cassandra wasn't having a seizure. But then I noticed tears streaming down her face, and she was sobbing inconsolably. I was taken aback, wondering what could have caused her such profound distress.

"Oh, no. I wish it were that simple," she said with a heavy sigh, her voice filled with sorrow. "It's something that happened to me during my college years."

My heart sank as I grasped the gravity of her words. I steeled myself for what she was about to reveal. "What happened?" I asked, my v