Searching Soul - a Mikhaiah au

CHAPTER 13: The Girl in the Rain

"Gibrael, I'm so proud of you!" her father exclaimed, his voice brimming with excitement as he pulled his daughter into a warm embrace.

It was the evening of Gibrael's exhibit opening, a moment she had dreamed of for years. Yet, she felt disconnected, as if watching the event unfold from a distance. The revelation about Countess Soul still weighed heavily on her mind, casting a shadow over what should have been a joyous occasion. She hadn't slept well the night before, her thoughts consumed by questions she wasn't ready to answer. She tried to mask the exhaustion beneath her eyes, but her efforts were in vain.

"Thanks, Dad," Gibrael replied, attempting to echo his enthusiasm, but her voice lacked conviction.

Her mother, sensing something was off, stepped closer. "Gibrael, this is your dream. It's happening right before your eyes," she encouraged, her voice gentle yet firm, trying to lift the lingering cloud over her daughter's spirit.

Gibrael forced a smile, but it felt hollow. The weight of unspoken truths hung between them.

"Gibrael, can we sit over there for a moment?" her father asked, gesturing toward an empty bench tucked away in a quiet corner of the exhibit.

She nodded, grateful for the chance to step away from the crowd. They made their way to the bench and sat down, the noise of the gallery fading into the background.

"Is something bothering you, Gibrael?" her father asked softly, concern etched into his features as he turned to look at her.

Gibrael let out a long, heavy sigh, the kind that came from the depths of her soul. "Dad," she began, her voice barely above a whisper, as if speaking too loudly would shatter the fragile calm she was trying to maintain. "I think I know why we can't find Soul."

Her father's brow furrowed with curiosity. "Why?" he asked, leaning in closer.

For a moment, Gibrael hesitated. She reached into her bag, her fingers brushing against the worn edges of the photograph of Countess Soul and Gabriel. She could feel the weight of the secret pressing down on her, a burden she wasn't sure she was ready to share.

She paused, her hand lingering inside the bag, the photograph just out of reach. She couldn't reveal the curse—not yet. There was a reason it had been hidden for so long, a reason that was still beyond her understanding. Perhaps it was better to leave some things unsaid.

Slowly, she withdrew her hand, leaving the photograph untouched. She turned to her father with a smile, this time more genuine, though tinged with sadness. "Because she doesn't want to be found."

Her words hung in the air, and her father studied her closely, trying to decipher the emotions playing across her face.

"There's a reason she doesn't want to be found, Dad," Gibrael continued, her voice steady despite the turmoil inside her. "I might not understand it fully, but she has her reasons. And whatever those reasons are, I have to respect them."

Her father's expression softened, a look of understanding and pride spreading across his face. "You've grown so much, my child," he said quietly. "And I'm proud of you, no matter what." He pulled her closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders in a comforting sideways hug.

Gibrael leaned into her father's embrace, allowing herself a moment of peace amid the chaos of her thoughts. "Shall we head back, Dad?" she asked softly, a faint smile on her lips. There was still so much she didn't know, so much she hadn't figured out, but for now, she chose to find solace in the small moments of happiness she could grasp.

Her father nodded, a warm smile spreading across his face. "Let's go," he agreed, standing up and offering her his hand.

Together, they returned to the gallery, where the world waited for them—a world that, for a brief moment, felt a little bit brighter despite the shadows that lingered.