The school day dragged on, each class blending into the next, a monotonous cycle that left Faele feeling drained. She sat at her usual spot in the cafeteria, picking at her lunch while her mind wandered to the events of the past few weeks. The laughter of her classmates felt like a distant echo, one she could no longer reach.
“Hey, mind if I join you?” Stella’s voice broke through Faele’s thoughts, and she looked up to see her best friend standing there with a tray of food.
“Of course!” Faele replied, forcing a smile. She was grateful for Stella’s presence, even if it felt like a thin bandage over a deep wound.
As Stella settled in across from her, the chatter around them faded into the background. “You look like you’ve been through a lot,” Stella said gently, her eyes searching Faele’s face for answers.
“I’m fine,” Faele lied, but the tremor in her voice betrayed her. The weight of her grief was becoming harder to bear alone, and she knew Stella could see right through her facade.
Stella didn’t press further; instead, she took a bite of her sandwich and watched Faele with concern. “You know I’m here for you, right? If you ever want to talk…”
Faele hesitated. Could she really open up about everything? The thought of sharing her pain felt daunting, but the loneliness was suffocating. “It’s just… everything feels so different now,” she finally admitted, her voice barely above a whisper.
Stella leaned in closer. “Different how?”
Faele took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts like fragile pieces of glass. “I feel lost without my parents. Living with Cassandra is… complicated.” She paused, searching for the right words. “It’s like I’m walking on eggshells around her all the time.”
Stella nodded empathetically. “I can’t imagine how hard that must be.”
“It is,” Faele continued, tears welling in her eyes. “Cassandra acts like she’s fine, but I can see the cracks beneath the surface. We never talk about what happened—about Mom and Dad—and it feels like we’re both just pretending.”
“Have you tried talking to her?” Stella asked softly.
Faele shook her head. “Every time I think about it, I freeze up. I don’t want to make things worse between us.”
Stella reached across the table and placed a comforting hand over Faele’s. “You’re not alone in this. You can lean on me.”
The warmth of Stella's hand sent a ripple of comfort through Faele’s heart. She had always known that Stella was there for her, but hearing those words made all the difference. “I just feel so overwhelmed,” Faele confessed, letting the tears spill over.
“It’s okay to feel that way,” Stella reassured her. “You’ve been through something unimaginable. It’s normal to struggle.”
Faele wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, grateful for Stella's understanding. “I thought I could handle everything on my own, but it’s just too much.”
“You don’t have to handle it alone,” Stella said firmly. “We’re friends for a reason. Let me help you carry some of that weight.”
In that moment, something shifted within Faele—a flicker of hope ignited amidst the darkness that had enveloped her since the tragedy. She realized that opening up didn’t mean she was weak; it meant she was brave enough to let someone else in.
“Okay,” Faele said softly, feeling lighter as she spoke. “I’ll try to talk to Cassandra about how I feel.”
“Good,” Stella smiled warmly. “And remember, I’m just a text away if you need anything.”
As they finished their lunch together, Faele felt a renewed sense of connection with Stella—a bond strengthened by vulnerability and shared understanding. For the first time in weeks, she felt as though she could breathe again.
After school that day, as Faele walked home with Stella by her side, she couldn’t shake off the feeling that maybe things would get better after all—one step at a time.
When they reached Cassandra’s house, Faele paused at the front door, uncertainty creeping back in. But as she turned to look at Stella—her best friend who had stood by her side through thick and thin—she felt bolstered by their conversation.
“Thanks for being here for me,” Faele said sincerely.
“Always,” Stella replied with a smile before giving Faele an encouraging nudge toward the door.
Taking a deep breath, Faele stepped inside and closed the door behind them—ready to face whatever came next with newfound strength and support.
YOU ARE READING
Broken Promise
Teen FictionHaving been fooled by someone to keep holding on to the broken promise. Can sometimes makes you think as an unvaluable being.
