𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐨𝐮𝐭 ;

notre écraser

monerah's pov

later that evening, i found myself sitting in the living room with my dad, james. he was a patient and funny man, always willing to listen, no matter what. the tv was on..playing the game, but my mind was elsewhere, tangled up in thoughts about my school project and the stories we had shared. and then, unexpectedly, my thoughts drifted to amir.

"dad," i began, hesitating for a moment. "can i talk to you about something?"

he muted the tv and turned his full attention to me. "yeah mo, what's up?"

i took a deep breath, trying to find the right words. "there's this boy at school... his name is amir.."

a gentle smile spread across his face. "ouuu homegirl gotta crush. ok ok, tell me more."

"omg" i said, laughing. "he's in my chemistry class. he's smart, funny, and he has this way of making everyone around him feel special. he's always helping people, always kind. and he has these deep but light eyes that i can't grasp."

he nodded, his expression encouraging. "he sounds like a goofy little man.. jokes. i think."

"stop," i laughed. "we talk sometimes during lab, but i get so nervous. i don't know how to take it further. i mean what if he doesn't like me back?"

he leaned back in his chair, considering his words carefully. "it's natural to feel nervous, especially when it comes to matters of the heart. but remember, you're a wonderful person, mo. anybody would be lucky to know my kid. if you feel a connection with amir, take a chance and talk to him more. you never know what might happen."

his words gave me a little boost of confidence, but the doubts still lingered. "what if he thinks i'm weird? or what if i say something stupid?"

he side eyed me. "we all worry about that. but it's those little imperfections that make us more interesting. and sometimes, it's really our quirks that others find the most endearing. just be yourself, mo. that's more than enough."

i nodded, feeling a bit more reassured. "thanks. sometimes i feel like my past makes it hard for me to open up. after everything i've been through, trusting someone new feels scary. what if he has a bad temper.."

he reached out and placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. "your past has made you strong, mo. but it doesn't define you. you have a cool ass future ahead, and you're nothing but beautiful. it's okay to let yourself be happy."

tears welled up in my eyes, and i blinked them back, feeling a mix of gratitude and vulnerability. "you always know what to say, pops. thank you."

he smiled warmly. "shi that's what i'm here for. and remember, no matter what happens with amir, you have people who care about you and want to see you happy. you're never alone in this."

we sat in comfortable silence for a few moments, the muted TV flickering in the background. i felt a sense of peace settling over me, knowing that i had the support and understanding of my dad.

"maybe i'll try to talk to him more," i said finally, a small smile tugging at my lips. "i'll invite him to tylan's next party."

he grinned. "now that sounds like a smart lil plan. i don't want no mouth to mouth you hear me." he said laughing

i nodded, laughing. feeling a renewed sense of optimism. with the encouragement of my dad and the bond i was forming with alana, i felt like i could face anything that came my way. as i headed to bed that night, i couldn't help but think that maybe, just maybe, things were starting to look up.

-

as the sun began to set, casting a golden hue over everything, their conversation took a more intimate turn. the air around them seemed to grow warmer, and the sounds of the garden became a distant hum.