CHIHIRO | Billie Eilish

Chapter 25: Who is she?

Nayla's POV

The days were slipping by too quickly. With only few more days until I had to head back to London to sort out my graduation stuff, I found myself cherishing every moment with Billie. We spent most of our time cuddled up on the couch, talking about the future.

"I'm really excited about your graduation," Billie said, her fingers gently tracing patterns on my arm. "I'll come to your graduation, Nayla. I wouldn't miss it for the world."

Her words made me smile, but a sudden wave of sadness washed over me. The thought of graduation, a milestone that should be joyous, was now tainted by the estrangement from my family. Billie noticed immediately. "What's wrong, baby?"

I sighed, trying to hold back the tears. "When I got accepted to uni, my mom promised she'd come to my graduation. She was so excited. But now...we're not even talking. She won't be there."

Billie gently cupped my face, her eyes full of concern and love. "I'm so sorry, Nayla. That's really tough. Do you want to try talking to her?"

I hesitated, the fear of rejection gnawing at me. But then I nodded. "Yeah, maybe it's time."

Billie's support gave me the courage I needed. I picked up my phone, my hands trembling slightly as I opened the messaging app. I scrolled to my mom's contact, took a deep breath, and typed out a message:

"Hey Mom. I know things have been rough between us, but I really miss you. Graduation is coming up, and I'd love for you to be there. Can we talk?"

I pressed send, my heart pounding in my chest. But instead of the little "message sent" notification, I saw an error. Confused, I tried again, only to realize that my mom had blocked me. My heart sank, and a cold dread washed over me. I checked my aunts' numbers too, hoping for a different outcome, but it was the same story. They had all blocked me.

Tears welled up in my eyes, and I felt a heavy weight on my chest. "They all blocked me," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

Billie immediately pulled me into a tight hug. "I'm so sorry, my love. You don't deserve this. None of this is your fault."

I buried my face in her shoulder, letting the tears flow freely. "It just hurts so much," I sobbed. "I thought maybe...maybe they'd come around."

Billie stroked my hair, her voice soothing. "I know, baby. I know it hurts. But you're not alone. You have me, and we have each other. We'll get through this together."

I nodded, taking comfort in her words and her warmth. "Thank you, Billie. I don't know what I'd do without you."

She kissed the top of my head. "You don't have to worry about that, because I'm not going anywhere. And when the time comes, I'll be right there at your graduation, cheering you on. We'll make new memories, happy ones."

I smiled through my tears, feeling a glimmer of hope. "I love you so much."

"I love you so much more, Nayla. More than anything."

The next day, Billie had a packed schedule at the studio. She was excited about working on new tracks, but I could tell she was a bit worried about leaving me alone.

"You sure you don't want to come with me?" she asked, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "It might be fun, and you'd get to hear some of the new stuff I'm working on."

I shook my head, giving her a reassuring smile. "I think I'll explore the city a bit. I need some time to clear my head."

Billie frowned slightly, her concern evident. "Are you sure you don't want a bodyguard with you? Just in case?"