Solace

Part XV: Silence

Early in the morning, Isabel did a routine visit to Sam's General Shop, delivering some fresh produce from her farm when Eva, who was restocking the shelves. She glanced at Isabel with an expression that was both hesitant and conflicted.

"Hey, Isabel," Eva said, her voice softer than usual.

Isabel smiled, placing a basket of strawberries on the counter. "Hi, Eva! How's everything going? Need anything else for the shop?"

Eva paused, fiddling with the hem of her apron as if unsure whether to speak. "Actually, Isabel... I wanted to tell you something. I wasn't sure if I should, but... well, I thought you might want to know."

Isabel's curiosity was piqued. She set down the last basket of goods and looked at Eva with a concerned expression. "What is it, Eva? Is something wrong?"

Eva glanced around the shop, making sure they were alone. "It's about Surya," she began slowly. "I saw him a last night. He was walking toward the carpenter shop with Joko and Dinda. Maybe at 10 pm? I just got back from delivering saplings to Jack & Kira's house."

Isabel's heart skipped a beat. "Surya's back?"

Eva bit her lip. "I was too shocked to call out to him, so I just... let them be. He wore a cap and didn't look like he wanted to be disturbed."

Isabel tried to mask her surprise, but her mind was already racing. Surya was back on the island, and he hadn't told her. Why? Was he planning to surprise her, or was there something else going on? The quietness of his return felt strange, almost unsettling.

"Thanks for letting me know, Eva," Isabel said, trying to keep her voice steady. "I appreciate it."

Eva nodded, her expression still a little uneasy. "I'm sorry if I've made you worry. I just thought you should know."

Isabel gave her a reassuring smile. "No, Eva, not at all. I'm glad you told me."

As she left the shop, Isabel's thoughts were a jumble of emotions. She was happy to know that Surya was back, but the fact that he hadn't reached out to her stung more than she expected. Was he planning a surprise? Or was there something wrong that he didn't want to share? The uncertainty gnawed at her, and she found herself hesitating to reach out to him first. What if she was intruding on something he wasn't ready to talk about?

***

Surya's return to Coral Island was as unexpected as it was quiet. No one saw him disembark from the ferry, and no excited whispers spread through the village like they usually did when someone came back from the mainland. He had slipped back onto the island in the same way he had left—quietly, almost as if he didn't want anyone to notice.

That evening, Isabel tried to distract herself with her usual farm chores, but her thoughts kept drifting back to Surya. She replayed Eva's words over and over, wondering what could have driven him to return so quietly. Part of her wanted to send him a message right away, to let him know that she was thinking of him, but another part of her held back. What if he needed space? What if he didn't want to talk to anyone just yet?

Isabel paced around her farmhouse, her phone clutched in her hand, debating with herself. She wanted to be there for him, but she didn't want to push him if he wasn't ready. In the end, she decided to wait, hoping that Surya would reach out when he was ready.

But as the hours passed and the night deepened, the silence weighed heavily on her. She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts spinning in circles. The uncertainty gnawed at her, making sleep elusive. Eventually, exhaustion overtook her, and she drifted into a restless slumber, her phone still within reach, just in case.

***

The next morning, Isabel awoke to a knock on her door. She rubbed her eyes, still groggy from the restless night, and quickly got dressed before answering it. To her surprise, it was Lily standing on her doorstep, her usually bright expression replaced with one of somber concern.

"Lily? Is everything okay?" Isabel asked, her voice tinged with worry.

Lily hesitated, her eyes filled with sympathy. "Isabel... I'm not sure how to say this, but I thought you should know. Theo and I heard from Dad this morning. Surya's mom... she passed away about a week ago."

Isabel felt the air leave her lungs, her heart dropping into her stomach. "But... she was getting better, wasn't she?"

Lily nodded, her expression pained. "She was, but her condition suddenly took a turn for the worse. It happened so quickly. Surya's been back for a few days now, but... Dad said he hasn't been himself. He had a huge fight with his sisters after their mom passed, and since then, he's barely spoken to anyone."

The shock of the news left Isabel momentarily speechless. Her mind raced, trying to process what Lily had just told her. Surya's mom was gone. The weight of those words settled heavily on her chest, and her heart ached for him. She knew how much his family meant to him, how deeply he must be hurting.

"Thank you for telling me, Lily," Isabel said quietly, her voice shaky. "Oh, God. I... I didn't know."

Lily reached out and squeezed Isabel's hand gently. "I thought you should know. I know you care about Surya, and he probably needs his friends right now, even if he doesn't realize it."

Isabel nodded, trying to hold back the tears that were threatening to spill. "I want to help him, but I don't know how. I don't want to push him if he's not ready to talk."

"Sometimes, just knowing someone is there for you can make a difference," Lily said softly. "Even if he doesn't respond right away, reaching out might mean more to him than you realize."

Isabel offered a faint smile, grateful for Lily's support. "I know the feelings. I'll try. Thanks, Lily."

After Lily left, Isabel stood in her doorway, staring out at the horizon. Her mind was racing with thoughts of Surya and what he must be going through. She remembered the emptiness she felt after her father passed away, how lost she had been without him. She wanted to be there for Surya, to help him through this dark time, but she was unsure how to do it.

***

That night, as Isabel sat on her porch, the stars twinkling overhead, she tried to summon the courage to reach out to Surya. She picked up her phone and stared at the blank screen, her mind filled with conflicting thoughts. What should she say? How could she offer comfort when words felt so inadequate?

After several long minutes of agonizing over what to write, Isabel finally began to type a message, her fingers trembling slightly.

Surya, I just heard about your mom. I'm so, so sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how hard this must be for you. Please know that I'm here for you, whenever you're ready to talk. No pressure—I just want you to know that you're not alone.

She read the message over a few times, feeling the weight of each word. It felt both too much and not enough at the same time. But she knew that sometimes, the simplest messages were the ones that meant the most. With a deep breath, she hit send.

Isabel sat on her porch for a long time after that, her phone resting in her lap as she waited for a reply that didn't come. She told herself that Surya needed time, that he was probably overwhelmed and grieving. She understood that silence could be a part of healing, but it didn't make the waiting any easier.

As the night grew darker and the air turned cooler, Isabel finally stood and went inside. She set her phone on the nightstand, trying to push aside the gnawing worry in her chest. All she could do now was be patient and hope that, when Surya was ready, he would reach out to her.

She lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling, her thoughts a mix of concern and quiet determination. She couldn't force Surya to talk, but she could be there for him when he needed her. And for now, that would have to be enough.

The stars outside her window continued to shine, distant and steady, as Isabel drifted into a fitful sleep, her heart heavy with thoughts of the friend she so dearly wanted to help.