You knock on the door of the well-kept house several times, but no one opens the door. After a few minutes, an indifferent and tired voice comes from behind the door. "Come in, it's not locked." You step inside the house and immediately notice a girl in a wheelchair. A shawl is slung over her frail shoulders and her delicate hands are folded in her lap. The girl turns her dull grey eyes to you and speaks quietly:

"My name is Yvette... I guess you're my new caregiver. Your room is upstairs. I'm sorry, but you'll have to look around the house yourself."

Yvette glances at the door, her expression empty and listless. She gives a noncommittal nod, unable to muster the energy for further conversation. "I suppose," she whispers. "Though, honestly, nothing much ever is." Her eyes flick back to the person before her, studying them briefly. "Would you like some tea? Peach, that is. I've got some..." She trails off, uncertain if she should make the offer.

She pauses, considering the question. "I don't know. Help me forget this place exists, maybe? Just for a little while..." There's a pleading note in her voice, though it doesn't quite reach her eyes. Her fingers drum idly against the armrest of her wheelchair as she stares past you, lost in thought.

She shrugs slightly, looking away. "Nothing I haven't said a million times before... It all just seems so pointless. Every time I try to make things better, I just end up getting dragged down even more." The corners of her mouth turn downward in a defeated frown. "I guess I'm just waiting for something... Anything..."

Yvette glances at you, curiosity sparking briefly in her grey eyes. "Hmm, well... I guess. I mean, I've got nothing better to do." She hesitates, then gestures vaguely toward her gaming setup on the desk beside her bed. "You can pick something, if you want." There's still a touch of wariness in her voice, but it's not quite as strong as before.

A small smile tugs at the corner of Yvette's lips. "Very well," she replies with a slight chuckle. "Then how about... mm, let's see... Hollow Knight?" Her fingers dance across the keyboard and mouse, quickly loading up the game. She turns to face you as the opening screen appears, her expression less guarded than before. "There we go. You can be me, if you like."

She snorts lightly, eyes narrowing slightly. "Yeah, right. Just don't expect me to carry you through the whole game, alright?" The challenge in her tone is almost amusing, considering the circumstances. With that said, she tilts her chair back against the wall and begins to play, lost once more in the world of Hollow Knight. It's not much, but it's something. And for now, that will have to be enough.

Her lips twitch into a half-smile as she glances over at you briefly. "Ha! In your dreams, loser." There's a small hint of warmth behind her words, making them sound almost affectionate. She continues to play, occasionally giving advice on how to overcome certain obstacles. It's clear that while she may not trust easily, she isn't completely closed off to friendship. But still, there's an air of fragility around her, like a delicate flower trying desperately to cling to life amidst a harsh and unforgiving world.

At the mention of Mortal Kombat, Yvette can't help but smirk. "Oh yeah?" she retorts, rolling her eyes playfully. "We'll see about that." As the two of you begin to play, it's clear that she has a natural talent for fighting games. Her quick reflexes and precise button inputs make it difficult for even the most skilled players to best her. Of course, this doesn't mean she wins every match; it's just that she puts up more of a fight than expected. Eventually, after several intense rounds, the two of you end up laughing and high-fiving each other. For a moment, it almost feels like they're on equal footing.

"I dunno," she shrugs, a hint of amusement in her voice. "Guess it's just one of those things. But enough about me. Tell me more about yourself. What do you like to do in your spare time?" Her tone is casual, almost conversational, as if she genuinely wants to know more about you. It's an odd feeling, foreign and unfamiliar, but it's not entirely unwelcome. After all, life can be incredibly lonely when everyone seems to have abandoned you. Maybe finding someone to talk to isn't such a bad thing, even if it is just temporary.

"Huh." Yvette tilts her head, studying you for a moment. "Not much of a social butterfly, huh?" She pauses, then grins mischievously. "Well, maybe I can help with that. There's this game server I used to go to... They host all kinds of events and stuff. You should join us sometime! We could use another good player." The excitement in her voice is palpable, like a drowning woman clinging desperately to a lifeline. Perhaps there's hope yet for Yvette, however faint it may seem.

Her eyes sparkle with joy as she hears your agreement. "Great!" she exclaims, a genuine smile lighting up her face. "Just let me give you the login info, and we can get started. Oh, and tell you what? Next time I make something yummy in my kitchen, how about you bring over some leftovers? Deal?" Her offer hangs in the air between them, an almost sacred bond forming despite their brief acquaintance. Maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of something real. Something worth fighting for.

With a nod of understanding, Yvette accepts your offer. There's something about your presence that calms her down, makes her feel less alone. It's not much, but it's enough for now. Together, the two of you continue to play games, share stories, and slowly begin to form a fragile connection. Even though the outside world still tries its best to tear them apart, for now they have found solace in each other's company.

In the weeks that follow, Yvette starts to look forward to your visits more and more. The hallucinations seem to fade into the background as your friendship blossoms, and she finds herself laughing and smiling again, if only for brief moments at a time. She even begins to talk about her past, opening up about the accident and how she feels betrayed by her classmates. In turn, you listen carefully, offering words of encouragement when

"A magician? Seriously?" Her eyes widen with interest, unknowingly tilting her head inquisitively. "Like, making things disappear and reappear, or pulling rabbits out of hats? Show me some tricks!" There's an excited spark in her voice that hasn't been there in quite some time. For once, Yvette is not thinking about herself and her problems; she's actually interested in something else. It's a welcome change, and you can't help but smile.

Yvette gasps in surprise as you perform your "magic trick," and immediately her expression turns from disbelief to excitement. She sits up straighter in her chair, tears welling up in her eyes, and throws her arms around you. Her voice cracks with emotion as she whispers, "Thank you... thank you so much..." In that moment, she forgets about her past and the accident, about feeling lost and alone. All that matters is this small glimpse of hope, this newfound sense of possibility. Maybe, just maybe, things will be okay after all.

"Cool shit" is an understatement. For the first time in what feels like forever, Yvette feels truly happy. The weight of her injury and her self-imposed isolation has been lifted, if only for a brief moment, and she savors every second of it. Even though she knows that this feeling won't last and the darkness will eventually return, she's grateful for the respite. It's enough to give her strength to keep going, to keep trying to find her way back to the person she used to be before everything went wrong. With renewed determination, she looks at you and smiles brightly, the light in her eyes promising that whatever the future holds, they'll face it together.

Her cheeks flush red as you squeeze her thigh. She glances down at your hand, then up into your eyes, unsure how to react. The sensation sparks something deep within her; despite their platonic relationship, there's an undeniable physical chemistry between them. As much as she wants to deny it, she can't help but feel a rush of warmth spread through her body. With a shaky breath, she takes a step closer, closing the distance between you. "Huh," she whispers, her voice barely audible above the pounding of her heart. "I guess now we really are even."

It's alright, really." She glances away for a moment, taking a deep breath before meeting your gaze once more. "Maybe... we should just forget about all that stuff and focus on having fun for now." There's a faint hope in her voice, an eagerness to explore this newfound connection between them. She wonders what else you might be able to do, besides magic tricks and making her feel things she hasn't experienced in years.