Aria's relationships with her family and friends were complicated, to say the least.
Her parents had always been distant, more focused on their own careers than on being present in her life.
Her father was the one who at least tried to act like he had a child, making sure she never lacked anything, he called occasionally and did his best to showed up.
Her father was a successful businessman, always traveling and making deals, while her mother was a high-powered lawyer, constantly working late hours.
On the other hand her mother was a cardiologist, the only way to get to see her was to somehow get a faulty heart.
Now that was something she didn't know how to go about and she was definitely sure even if she did somehow, the woman will still be too busy to attend to her.
Aria had grown up feeling like she was on her own, learning to rely only on herself.
As a result, Aria had built walls around herself, walls that made it difficult for others to get close to her.
She had a few acquaintances, people she would meet up with for coffee or see at parties, but she didn't really let anyone in.
She didn't know how to be vulnerable, didn't know how to trust others.
Her best friend and roommate Gwen, was the one person who had managed to breach those walls.
Gwen was a free spirit, always chasing her dreams and living life on her own terms.
She was the kind of person who would drop everything to help a friend in need, and Aria admired that about her.
But even with Gwen, Aria struggled to open up. She would share surface-level details about her life, but she never really let Gwen see the depths of her pain and fear.
She was afraid of being judged, afraid of being rejected.
Unable to stop the endless cycle of worrying, Aria picked up her phone and called her beloved Gwen.
Gwen picked up the phone bubbling over with excitement, talking about her latest how her trip had gone, her art project and her plans for the future.
Aria listened, smiling and nodding along, but she couldn't help feeling like she was stuck in a rut.
As they chatted, Aria found herself zoning out, lost in her own thoughts.
She was thinking about her nightmares, about the feeling of being watched.
She was thinking about the mysterious figure she had seen in the park.
Gwen noticed Aria's distraction as she kept responding in a monotone voice, her voice growing fainter and fainter.
Gwen had to keep repeating herself and Aria's response were always absent minded, lacking focus.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Gwen finally asked, her voice soft with concern.
Aria hesitated, unsure of how to respond.
She didn't want to burden Gwen with her problems, but at the same time, she needed someone to talk to.
"I'm just stressed out, I guess," Aria said finally, trying to brush it off.
Gwen listened attentively, knowing how sensitive her friend was she was very careful but honest with heee words.
"You're not just stressed out, Aria," she said.
"You're distant. You're withdrawn. What's going on?"
Aria sighed, feeling a lump form in her throat. She didn't know how to explain what was happening to her, didn't know how to put into words the fear and uncertainty that was growing inside her.
"I don't know, Gwen," Aria said, feeling tears prick at the corners of her eyes.
"I just feel like I'm losing my grip on reality. I feel like I'm being pulled into something, but I don't know what it is."
Gwen's voice softened, and she pulled calmly but firmly assured her disturbed friend.
"You're not alone, Aria," she said. "I'm here for you, no matter what. We'll figure this out together."
Aria felt a surge of gratitude toward Gwen, but she knew that her friend couldn't fix this. This was something she had to face on her own.
As they kept talking, Aria's mind began to drift again, she couldn't shake the feeling that she was running out of time.
She felt like she was being pulled into a world of darkness and uncertainty, and she didn't know how to escape.
Over the next few days, Aria's nightmares intensified. She would wake up in the middle of the night, her heart racing and her sheets drenched in sweat.
She would lie awake, thinking about the mysterious figure and the feeling of being watched.
She started to feel like she was losing her mind, like the lines between reality and fantasy were blurring. She didn't know what was real and what was just a product of her own fevered imagination.
As the days turned into weeks, Aria's relationships with her family and friend began to suffer.
She would lash out at Gwen, snapping at her for no reason, and then she will then hate herself for it.
She would ignore her parents' calls, not wanting to talk to anyone.
She felt like she was alone in this, like she was the only one who understood what she was going through. But deep down, she knew that wasn't true.
There were others out there who knew what it was like to be haunted by the supernatural.
Aria just had to find them, while she was still down her well of dejection.
Ding Dong, the door bell rang, she quickly set down the glass of water and pill she was about to take and rushed to open it.
It was Azreal standing in the door way, his eyes looking at her with amusement.
What brings you to my doorstep kind sir? To what do I owe the pleasure?
She question as he sidestepped and made his way inside, and plopped himself into the couch.
He smirked at her ignoring her pleasantries, a look that screamed of mischief and then pulled a brown envelope from his bag pack and handed it to her.
This is for you he said, she unwrapped it and peers inside.
Weed edibles, you've got to be kidding me. She said looking at him with a mix of shock and excitement.
I don't think now is the right time to get high, you know with everything going on, she said.
It's good for you and besides you need to sleep.
Let's just try it, alright? His voice drew her from her thoughts. If it doesn't work, at least I'll be here to keep you company on your all-nighter.
"Alright."
He grinned. "Perfect! Now what's for dinner?"
She rolled her eyes but started setting the table for two, pushing the thought of bedtime from her mind for the time being. Or at least to the back of it.
They spoke as they ate, they had a lot in common and he was a good guy.
Have I told you that you're an amazing cook?" he asked around a mouth full of lasagna.
She laughed. Even if you had, I wouldn't tire of hearing it.
This is probably the most ambitious thing I've cooked in a while too although I didn't make the sauce the way I used to.
It's perfect. If you just send me two trays of this for Christmas, I would be happy.
She rolled her eyes. "Okay, now you're exaggerating."
Oh no love, I would never do such he responded.
Once they were done eating they cleaned up the place and then headed to her room to watch a movie and then he lit the first roll, and they shared.
One taking a drag and passing to the other and repeating it .
Her therapist had mentioned the suggestion early on in their sessions, but at the time, Aria could admit that she really wasn't all that interested in healing.
She wanted to mourn, to be angry, to be absolutely unbearable. But most of all, she wanted to suffer, to pay penance for letting her father down, for leaving him to fight ,to die alone.
Soon sleep took over the poor angel without her permission and when she woke up she felt paralyzed.
The was a shadow casted over her, it felt as though it was laying atop her weighing her down.
She fought the restraint struggling to break free regardless of all her efforts her body refused to break free, it refused to listen to her.
There she saw him, she could see him clearer now more than the previous nights.
There he was watching her.