Broken shades (Twilight)(Embry Call)

The Burden of Silence

"In restless dreams, I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence"
-Sound of Silence- Disturbed

**Chapter 2: The Burden of Silence**

The sun dipped low on the horizon, casting a golden light over the dense trees of the La Push forest. Kaya ran until her lungs burned, and her legs screamed for mercy, but she didn't stop until she reached the familiar clearing by the cliffside. The pounding in her head was relentless, each step sending a fresh wave of pain through her battered body. She collapsed onto the soft grass, her breath coming in ragged gasps as she tried to pull herself together.

She wasn't sure how long she lay there, staring up at the darkening sky, trying to calm her racing heart. She hadn't meant for Embry to see her like that, hadn't wanted anyone to see the damage her father had inflicted on her. Kaya was used to hiding her pain, burying it deep where no one could find it. But Embry had seen too much, and she didn't know what to do with the shame that now coiled in her chest.

Embry had always been different. He was quieter than the others, more thoughtful, and when he teased her, it was never with the same sharpness that sometimes came from Jake or Paul. There was something about him that made her feel safe, even when the world seemed to be crumbling around her. But now, after seeing the look on his face when he realized what had happened to her, she wasn't sure if she could ever face him again.

The sound of approaching footsteps brought her back to reality. She instinctively pushed herself up, ready to bolt, but the sight of Embry emerging from the trees stopped her in her tracks. He hesitated for a moment when he saw her, as if unsure of how to approach, then slowly walked over and sat down beside her, leaving a respectful distance between them.

For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Kaya kept her gaze fixed on the ocean, trying to focus on the steady rhythm of the waves instead of the uncomfortable silence hanging between them. She could feel Embry's eyes on her, filled with questions he was too afraid to ask. She didn't blame him. If their roles had been reversed, she wouldn't have known what to say either.

"Why didn't you tell anyone?" Embry finally asked, his voice soft but filled with an intensity that made Kaya's chest tighten.

Kaya swallowed hard, still staring out at the water. "What would I say?" she whispered. "That my dad's a drunk who takes his anger out on me because Paul left? That I'm too scared to fight back?"

Embry's jaw tightened, and he shook his head. "You shouldn't have to go through this alone, Kaya. We're your friends. We care about you."

"I didn't want anyone to know," she said, her voice trembling. "I didn't want to be... pitied. And I didn't want Paul to find out. He's already dealing with so much, and I... I couldn't add to it."

"Paul should have been there for you," Embry said, his tone laced with anger. "He's your brother. He should have known something was wrong."

"Paul didn't know," Kaya said quickly, feeling a surge of protectiveness for her brother. "He... he couldn't have known. He has his own life now, his own problems. I didn't want him to worry."

Embry ran a hand through his hair, looking frustrated. "So, what, you're just going to keep letting this happen? Keep hiding behind sunglasses and baggy clothes?"

"I don't have a choice," Kaya said, her voice breaking. "What am I supposed to do, Embry? If I tell anyone, he'll just get worse. He'll... he'll kill me."

Embry's eyes darkened, and his hands clenched into fists. "Kaya, we can't just ignore this. You need help."

"I don't need help," Kaya said, the words coming out harsher than she intended. "I just... I need to figure this out on my own. Please, Embry, don't say anything to the others. I can handle it."

Embry looked at her, his expression torn. "You shouldn't have to handle it alone."

Kaya bit her lip, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill over. She couldn't break down now, not in front of him. She needed to stay strong, to keep it together. But when she looked into Embry's eyes, saw the concern and care there, the walls she had carefully constructed began to crumble.

"Please," she whispered, her voice cracking. "Just... just give me some time. I'll figure it out."

Embry's gaze softened, and he nodded slowly. "Okay, Kaya. I'll give you time. But promise me you'll come to me if it gets worse. Promise me you won't shut me out."

Kaya hesitated, then nodded, even though she wasn't sure she could keep that promise. "I'll try," she said softly.

Embry reached out, gently brushing a strand of hair from her face. His touch was warm, comforting, and for a moment, Kaya allowed herself to lean into it, to take comfort in the fact that someone cared. But as much as she wanted to stay there, to let herself be vulnerable, she knew she couldn't. She had to stay strong, to keep up the facade, at least until she figured out what to do next.

"I should go," she said, pulling away from Embry's touch and standing up. "I need to get home before... before he notices I'm gone."

Embry stood as well, his eyes filled with concern. "Are you sure you'll be okay?"

Kaya nodded, forcing a smile. "I'll be fine. I'm always fine."

Embry didn't look convinced, but he didn't push her. "Okay. But I'm serious, Kaya. If you need anything, anything at all, just call me. Day or night, I'll be there."

"Thanks, Embry," Kaya said, her heart aching with the knowledge that she was lying to him, lying to everyone who cared about her. "I'll see you tomorrow."

As she turned and walked away, heading back toward the house she dreaded returning to, Kaya couldn't help but feel a deep sense of guilt. Embry deserved better than this—better than being lied to, better than being kept in the dark. But she didn't know how to give him what he deserved, not when her world was falling apart piece by piece.

She reached the edge of the forest, pausing to glance back at Embry. He was still standing there, watching her with a worried expression that tugged at her heart. Kaya wanted to go back to him, to let him hold her and tell her everything would be okay. But she couldn't. Not yet.

With a heavy sigh, she turned and walked the rest of the way home, bracing herself for whatever awaited her behind those closed doors. The shadows of her life were growing darker, and she didn't know how much longer she could keep pretending everything was fine.