𝐄𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐍𝐀𝐋 𝐁𝐎𝐍𝐃𝐒

Chapter 7 : Real Friends, Real Support

Finally, Amayra felt ready to share the next part of her story.

"You know, Gojo," she started, her voice calm but reflective, "there were a few real friends who helped me see the truth. Without them, I might have never realized how deeply I was being deceived."

Gojo nodded, encouraging her to continue. "Tell me about them."

Amayra smiled, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. "There were three of them: Riya, Sameer, and Aisha. They were my lifeline during those dark days. They were the ones who truly cared, even when I was too blind to see what was happening around me."

She took a deep breath, recalling the moments that had shaped her understanding. "Riya was the first to notice something was off. She saw how my ex and his friends treated me differently when they thought I wasn’t looking. She tried to warn me several times, but I was too caught up in trying to fit in to listen."

Gojo listened intently, his gaze never leaving her face. "How did she finally get through to you?"

"It was after one particularly humiliating incident," Amayra continued, her voice trembling slightly at the memory. "My ex had made a public spectacle of me, pretending it was all in good fun. I was devastated. That night, Riya came to my house. She didn’t say 'I told you so.' Instead, she sat with me, listened to my pain, and gently told me that I deserved better."

Amayra paused, gathering her thoughts. "Sameer was the one who dug deeper. He found out that my ex had a history of using girls and discarding them. Sameer showed me messages and pictures that proved my ex was lying about everything. It was hard to accept at first, but seeing the truth laid out so plainly made it impossible to deny."

"And Aisha?" Gojo asked, his voice soft.

"Aisha was my rock," Amayra said, her voice filled with affection. "She stood by me every step of the way. When I was too broken to confront the truth, she held me up. She helped me see that my worth wasn’t tied to my ex or his friends. She reminded me of who I was before all of this and encouraged me to reclaim my strength."

Gojo squeezed her hand gently. "They sound like amazing friends."

"They are," Amayra agreed, tears glistening in her eyes. "When I finally confronted my ex, it was their support that gave me the courage to stand up to him. They were there to pick up the pieces and help me rebuild my life."

She looked at Gojo, her eyes filled with gratitude. "Without Riya, Sameer, and Aisha, I might have never broken free from that toxic relationship. They showed me what true friendship is and helped me understand that real friends lift you up, not tear you down."

Gojo wrapped his arms around her, holding her close. "I’m so glad you had them. And now, you have even more people who love and support you. You're never alone."

Amayra smiled, feeling the warmth of his embrace. "I know. And I'm grateful for every one of them, especially you."

Gojo kissed her forehead, his voice filled with love. "We'll face everything together, Amayra. The past, the present, and the future. You're never alone."

As they sat there, enveloped in each other's warmth, Amyra felt a sense of peace. The scars of her past were still there, but they no longer defined her. With Gojo by her side and the support of her true friends, she knew she could face anything the future held.