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Ethan always found it ironic that when he had the most to say, was when he struggled the most to find the right words.

Teddy jumped onto the desk, walking directly across the notebook before settling down beside him.

At least someone appreciates what I do.

Ethan had always used writing to sort through his thoughts and feelings, but as he began, the memories of last night kept creeping in, muddying his thoughts.

As much as he’d tried to convince himself that everything happening to him was just stress, exhaustion, or maybe some kind of mental breakdown—he wasn’t so sure he believed that anymore.

His brow furrowed, and he shook his head. He turned to Teddy, who was grooming herself, completely uninterested, as usual.

“Something just isn't adding up,” he said quietly. “You know?”

Teddy paused mid-lick to blink at him, then went back to cleaning her paw.

“Nothing she said last night made any sense.” He clicked the top of the pen, the sound echoing louder than usual in his quiet apartment. “That wasn’t Evie talking…”

Think.

Ethan pressed the pen to paper, letting his thoughts spill out as they came.

The feelings he had for Evie had grown, but so had the mounting questions. If he could just write down what was going on, get all of the cards on the table, then maybe he’d see something he was missing. Some pattern that his exhausted brain wasn't quite catching.

The first thing that came to mind was the night on the Ferris wheel.

Ferris wheel, he scrawled at the top, underlining it twice.

The kiss with Evie had been real, very real, and so were the feelings that had come with it. The connection in that moment had been undeniable. Fucking electric. Despite what she’d said last night, that kiss, that moment between the two of them—it didn't lie.

But what came after, when he’d hallucinated on the gondola? That was harder to explain. The lack of sleep and nightmares had all blurred together by that point.

Which led to the next thing he couldn't explain. The thing that had been wrecking his brain since it happened.

When he’d reached for her last night at the lighthouse, whatever it was that he’d seen—it looked the same or similar to what he'd been seeing in his dreams—black iridescent scales. Ethan’s palms started sweating just thinking about it.

It wouldn't be the first time he’d had anxiety-induced nightmares, but this was real. Lucid. He’d been right there and seen it with his own two eyes. And the fact that it kept happening around Evie? It just didn't make sense, but lately, nothing had.

Maybe I’m losing my mind, he questioned.

He shook his head, clicking the pen faster and faster as his thoughts raced.

He stared at the growing list, none of it making any more sense than when he started, but he continued.

Despite the fact that he was positive of what he saw last night, the most telling thing out of it all was the fact that last night—without a doubt—Evie had seen it too.

The look on her face had been pure terror. The anger and callousness had disappeared entirely when she saw it. Her expression had shifted immediately, like she’d been caught doing something she shouldn't have. Something she’d desperately been trying to hide.

Ethan shook his head and leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face hard enough to hurt.

“What else…”

Teddy hopped down from the desk and trotted over to the kitchen, leaving him to his thoughts.

Ethan closed his eyes and let out a deep exhale, head resting in his palms. At this point, he realized it might be time for a psych ev⁠—

Clang.

Ethan almost fell out of his chair as he whirled around to find Teddy’s water bowl overturned and spilled out onto the floor.