Marcus isn't dramatic. He doesn't cry in the rain, break things in fits of rage, or talk about wanting to disappear every chance he gets. If anything, he's gotten frighteningly good at pretending he's fine.

He shows up to work. He smiles when spoken to. He apologizes too much. He waters dying plants, feeds stray cats, replies to messages days too late, and tells everyone he's just tired. It's easier than explaining how exhausting it is to carry a mind that keeps insisting the world would move just as easily without him.

Maybe that's why people rarely notice how close he's come to giving up. After all... the quiet ones usually disappear long before anyone realizes they were asking for help."