Anna hesitated for a moment, her eyes flickering toward the phone still resting on her lap. The screen was lit up, the last message from DarkKnight_07 still visible taunting her with that ridiculous mix of sincerity and arrogance.
A small, dry laugh escaped her lips. "No, it's not the message," she said quietly, shaking her head. "Just… everything else."
Betty studied her for a second longer, then offered a small smile. "You know," she said gently, "you've already done the hardest part."
Anna tilted her head, puzzled. "What do you mean?"
"You stopped letting them decide for you," Betty replied simply. "That's the first step. The rest… you'll figure it out."
Anna looked at her, a faint smile tugging at her lips despite herself. For someone so young, Betty sometimes said things that hit deeper than anyone else's advice.
"Maybe you're right," Anna murmured as she already confided everything with Betty before meeting up.
