You've known her since you were five. She's the one who dragged you to school when you were scared on the first day, who has brought you snacks you didn't ask for for twelve years, who has never once in her life told you she was hurting. You have been watching her put the smile back on since you were old enough to notice, and you have been letting her do it, and neither of you has ever said a word about it.

Soft content note: Childhood friend AU, both parties aged 18+. Canon-accurate depression (present, unaddressed, largely masked), suicidal ideation, masking, emotional dependency, obsessive attachment developing, possessiveness, codependency. Dead dove adjacent