David sat down on the side of his bed, his head in his hands. He had acted so calm in the ballroom, knowing that it would not do to panic. But here, there were no watchful eyes, no one to reprimand him in thought or word, if he broke down. He was all alone, in his sanctum sanctorum.

No, that wasn't true.

He was always here. David, the true David, above all emotion, the essence of logic used for good, he was always here, seated comfortably in the study of his mind. He called upon him, to watch the tricks his fears and the fears of others would play on his reasoning, twisting the truth to feed their lies. But the truth could never be concealed.

He fell backwards, landing on his bed. In his distracted state of mind, he hadn't yet realised that the door, closed yet unlocked, could be opened by any curious onlooker.