-willow tree-

hard truth

After Adaline fled from the willow tree, her heart raced as she entered her home, where her father awaited her, a stern expression on his face.

"Adaline, we need to talk," he said, his voice low.

"I overheard your conversation with Jane," he continued, narrowing his eyes. "This friendship is unacceptable."

"It's just a friendship," Adaline protested.

"It's not," he replied sharply. "If you continue to see her, I'll take drastic measures. You need to focus on what's right for you."

"What do you mean?" Adaline's heart pounded.

"I will send you to conversion camp if you don't cut ties with her," he declared.

Adaline felt her stomach drop. "You can't be serious! You would send me away for being friends with someone?"

"I will not have you influenced by her," he stated. "You need to block her on social media."

"Dad, please! I can't just block her! She cares about me!"

"I am your father, and it's my responsibility to guide you," he said firmly. "If you refuse, I will take matters into my own hands."

Trapped, Adaline nodded, feeling defeated. "Fine, I'll block her."

As she retreated to her room, she felt the weight of her father's ultimatum. With trembling hands, she opened her social media apps and blocked Jane, her heart breaking with each click.

Adaline sank onto her bed, tears streaming down her face as she faced the reality of losing the one person who understood her, caught between her love for her friend and her father's suffocating expectations. Adaline retreated to her room, her heart heavy with the decision she had to make. She took a deep breath, knowing that blocking Jane was the only way to avoid her father's threats.

Sitting on her bed, she opened her phone and navigated to her social media apps. One by one, she found Jane's profile. With a trembling finger, she tapped the "block" button on each platform—Instagram, Facebook, Snapchat—her heart aching with each confirmation.

After blocking Jane on everything, Adaline felt a deep sense of loss wash over her. She knew she had to show her father proof to avoid any further conflict.

Gathering herself, she went back to the living room where her father waited. "I did it," she said, holding out her phone to him.

He took the device, scrolling through the apps to verify her actions. Adaline watched nervously as he checked each platform, his expression unreadable. Finally, he looked up, a mix of satisfaction and approval on his face.

"Good," he said, handing the phone back to her. "This is for your own good. You'll thank me one day."

Adaline nodded, masking her true feelings as she took her phone back, knowing that the connection with Jane was now severed.