They said that Anneliese was born with a strange silence in her eyes.
It wasn't fear,
But something else…
It was as if her mind listened to the world more than she spoke.
Since the day she came into the world, she had noticed one thing that others could not see: people's emotions had colors.
Their sadness was red, their fears gray, their anger black.
And when she placed her touch on someone, those colors changed…
They calmed down or became softer.
Anneliese did not know where this gift she had obtained came from.
She only knew that she could not separate herself from it for the good of her people.
When someone suffered, her heart tightened.
So she touched.
And their pain went away.
The only reason that made her suffer was that when she helped someone,
A small piece of her faded away.
She said nothing.
And no one saw her suffering.
In their eyes, Anneliese was "the savior who was always fine."
But she knew it wasn't that simple.
Without realizing it, another miracle was about to occur in Anneliese's life.
The day she arrived.
Sophia arrived on a Thursday morning, when the wind seemed too exhausted to blow.
The savior of Anneliese.
People ignored her name.
But everyone watched her enter the classroom as if…
She was bringing an important message.
She sat next to Anneliese.
Not out of obligation… but because there was a seat left.
Sophia looked at her for a second.
A second that changed everything.
Her eyes did not flee from hers.
On the contrary, they immersed themselves in them,
As if she could see through her.
— You are exhausted, Sophia said softly.
Anneliese froze.
The thing everyone ignored around her, a stranger noticed simply by looking at her.
— No, I'm fine, she replied by reflex.
Sophia shook her head, knowing she was lying.
— Your eyes say the opposite.
It was so direct.
So true that Anneliese felt something break inside her.
There was no red, no gray, no black around her.
No color to rebuild. Just a steady presence.
For the first time in her life, she did not feel her gift activate.
And that disturbed her.
As usual during the break, Anneliese went out into the courtyard,
But Sophia followed her, discreetly, like a shadow.
— My name is Sophia, she said.
Anneliese did not answer.
She didn't seem to have a response.
She stared at her hands, as if they hid a secret.
— You always repair others… but you break yourself, me.
That sentence made Anneliese tremble. She wanted to move away from her.
But at that very moment, a boy began to cry near a wall.
Anneliese felt her hands burning.
The red of sadness enveloped her.
She took a step forward.
Sophia placed her hand on her arm to stop her.
That simple contact made her tremble.
She felt a new sensation.
Like a heavy weight being lifted from her.
For the first time, nothing drained from her.
— You don't have to, Sophia murmured.
— Yes… I have to… do it.
— No. You need to stop worrying about people. Think a little about yourself.
Anneliese lowered her head.
No one had ever told her that.
Sophia stood near the crying boy.
Without any magic, she spoke to him gently…
And the boy calmed down.
Anneliese watched her, astonished.
For the first time, she saw someone
Repair an emotion.
Without harming themselves.
Anneliese stood there, surprised, arms hanging, as if her body refused to move.
The way Sophia soothed the boy without magic…
It was like watching a quiet miracle.
When her gaze finally fell on her, Anneliese looked away.
She feared that Sophia might notice something in her eyes.
— You saw? she said softly.
— Yes… replied Anneliese.
— Now stop hurting yourself and think a little about yourself.
Sophia said this sentence with a gentleness that disarmed her.
No one had ever looked at her as if
She too had the right to be saved.
Anneliese felt her heart tighten.
She spoke as if she could see through her…
Beyond the colors.
And for the first time, she wanted to say everything.
But the words remained stuck in her throat.
During the rest of the day, Anneliese avoided meeting Sophia's gaze.
But in the last class of the day, everything collapsed.
A scream came from the hallway.
A girl had collapsed near the door.
Hands on her chest,
Her tears flowed without the slightest explanation.
Anneliese immediately felt the red color swirling around her.
Pain, sadness.
She stepped forward…
Her body reacted before she could even think.
But before she could reach her,
Sophia stepped in front of her.
— Anneliese… stop.
She stopped.
— You're tired, she said.
— But I have to help her, Anneliese replied.
— You're going to empty yourself even more.
Anneliese's hands were trembling, as if the inner light wanted to escape.
— If you help her, you're the one who might fall, Sophia said.
She hesitated, but the girl's pain was calling her.
— Anneliese, let me stay close to you. I can't replace you,
But I can help you. Sophia pleaded.
Anneliese took a deep breath and finally accepted Sophia's hand.
Then together, they approached the girl.
The red color around her seemed to absorb her,
But Sophia's presence slowed Anneliese's heart.
Anneliese placed her hand, and this time… the pain did not consume her.
When the girl finally lifted her eyes, relieved,
Sophia whispered to her:
— You see?
— When you accept help, you don't lose yourself.
And in her gaze, Anneliese finally understood:
Rebuilding others' emotions was not a duty.
But a burden.
That becomes lighter when a heart accepts to cradle it.
Anneliese could repair people's emotions.
Sophia repaired her heart.
And together, they learned that receiving is also an act.
"The savior was finally freed."
THE END!