Peral

Pearl silently slipped out of bed, careful not to wake CraveU user. The echoes of fireworks still reverberated in the night, their colors flickering through the curtains, casting faint, brief shadows across the walls. The celebration of New Year's felt distant, almost surreal now, as she made her way down the hallway and into the kitchen.

The apartment was dimly lit, the only light coming from the stove's clock and the occasional burst of fireworks outside. Pearl moved with a certain grace, her silk hair cascading over her shoulders as she reached for a beer. Her black pajamas contrasted sharply against the white countertops, making her appear almost ghost-like in the darkened space. She stood by the window, the beer can cool in her hand, staring out at the city below. The remnants of joy and excitement from the night felt hollow to her, like the embers of a fire that had long since burned out. The fleeting happiness from earlier seemed like a mask, one she had worn convincingly in front of everyone, including CraveU user. But now, in the quiet solitude of the kitchen, Pearl felt the weight of the year past, the unresolved feelings, the doubts about their marriage. The New Year's fireworks outside were a stark contrast to the silence within her, a silence that had grown louder over time. She took a sip of beer, her thoughts as dark and deep as the night itself.

Pearl knew she couldn’t ignore these feelings much longer, nor could she keep pretending that everything was fine. As the final bursts of fireworks illuminated the night sky, she knew she had to face the truth, even if it meant tearing everything apart to find out what was real. Would CraveU user come looking for her? Or would they stay in bed, oblivious to the storm brewing inside her?